Best RFC goalkeeper of all time?

[SpaceCruiser]

Vote until Monday 4th at midday....

Get voting!

[SpaceCruiser]

Sorry, forgot Rob the Royal's request.

Neil "Shaka" Hislop

Was ever present during the 1993/4 Division Two championship and also the 1994/5 play-off season which culiminated in that game at Wembley. Was sold to Newcastle for a record £1.5 millon fee.

Marcus Hahnemann

Current goalkeeper. Initially came on loan from Fulham for a part of our promotion season in 2001/2 season and signed permanently the following season which saw us get to the play-off semi finals which we lost to Wolves. Has also played a major role in our Championship winning season.

Steve Death

Sorry, I don't know much about this player except that he was one of the shortest keepers and currently holds the record for the longest clean sheet. Was a member of the squad in the seventies. Possibly won promotion from Division Four.

Steve Francis

Was signed by Ian Branfoot in 1987 and took Gary Westwood's place between the sticks and played in the Simod Cup final. Probably not much taller than Steve Death and I was impressed by the way he played in the Simod Cup semi final against Coventry - a couple of penalty saves, I think. Was a regular until Mark McGhee decided to sell him to Huddersfield and funny enough, his new team was the first team Reading played that season in 1993/4 and we beat them 3-0!

Phil Whitehead

Signed by Alan Pardew to alleviate the keeping crisis after Tommy Burns was sacked in 1999. Went on to feature in successive seasons from then on through to playing in Division One before being replaced by Hahnemann. Unfortunately took exception to being replaced and was immediately sold on to, who I can't remember.

Gary Westwood

Was signed by either Ian Branfoot or Maurice Evans, I'm not sure. A regular during the record breaking 13 wins from the start of the 1985/6 season and played in the old second division before making way to Steve Francis. Ginger hair, if I remember.

Nicky Hammond

Signed by the Jimmy Quinn/Mick Gooding manager team in 1996 or 1997 to alleviate the goalkeeping crisis that saw us use quite a few goalkeepers, was mostly second choice goalkeeper for most of his Reading career. However, he is well remembered for his penalty saving heroics during the FA Cup run in the Terry Bullivant disaster of a season. Retired after suffering a bad back.

Steve Mautone

Australian keeper who was also signed by the Jimmy Quinn/Mick Gooding manager team, initially on loan and then permanently. Played most of the Terry Bullivant season too. Retired due to injury the following season.

[biscuitsrus]

I did think that Bobby Mihaylov would have been given a shout!!!!

Nurse Nurse pass me my tablets!

[SpaceCruiser]

I did think that Bobby Mihaylov would have been given a shout!!!!

Nurse Nurse pass me my tablets!

He may have had a big reputation and did play for Bulgaria, but unfortunately people mainly remember him being injured most of the time and when he did play, he was shite. Also people do still remember him thinking we played our home games at Wembley!!!

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

tommy wright wright wright was pretty good.

[SpaceCruiser]

I guess it was you who voted for A.N. Other? I only put that in for a laugh, thinking that 8 was the maximum, but it accepts 9?!?

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

and what about simon sheppard?

[Ian Royal]

Got to be Death for me, I have his name on the back of my favourite shirt. He has held a league record for 20+ years and he played at time I believe when 'keepers didn't wear gloves.

Also he managed all that despite drinking, smoking and being fairly short.

Absolute Legend.

Also it means I don't have to make the really tough choice between Marcus and Shaka.

[SpaceCruiser]

and what about simon sheppard?

Are you joking? The man was derided by many Reading fans and called the worst ever keeper, despite Gary Phillips.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

and what about simon sheppard?

Are you joking? The man was derided by many Reading fans and called the worst ever keeper, despite Gary Phillips.

yet you still have mautone up there who was only slightly better.

[Bowman's Quiver]

The best performances I've seen from a goalkeeper playing for Reading was Jim Leighton when on loan from United in about 1992. He made some quite extraordinary saves.

Over a season or more I'd plump for Hislop over Death only because I think Stevie let himself down a bit at the end of his career with us. Both very good goalkeepers mind.

[AF1]

Simon Shepherd.


Certainly the most popular keeper we ever had. Who else got cheered for successfully taking a goal kick?

[Ian Royal]

and what about simon sheppard?

Are you joking? The man was derided by many Reading fans and called the worst ever keeper, despite Gary Phillips.

yet you still have mautone up there who was only slightly better.

Mautone was a very good keeper who had his career destroyed by injury... Wasn't there premiership interest in him at one point?

[papereyes]

Simon Sheppard?

[Derbyshire Royal]

Steve Death end of!

I am sure Hanneman can make a good claim as he is playing at the tioop level too.

[Coppelled Streets]

Deathy.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Thought Chris Woods and Jim Leighton were quite good ....
But are we talking quantity rather than quality (or both)?

If Smith gets in then surely Leighton should - he was top class for us and restarted his career at Elm Park.

N.B. Wiggy the Cat was OK when he played. Did he do more than 10 minutes at a time?

[Dangerous]

Never saw Death, so am basing on what I have seen, as this is the fairest way IMHO, therefore, it's tough, but Shaka gets the nod for me here.

[SpaceCruiser]

But are we talking quantity rather than quality (or both)?

It's both, ideally.

If Smith gets in

Who is this Smith?

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Who is this Smith?

Good point, well made.
Forget that one then - had a blonde moment.

Still say Leighton deserves to get on the list though - he looked a class above ......