Who was City's best ever goalie?

[horky]

Greatest has to be

Bert Trautmann

Best i have had the pleasure to watch in the green of city was

Joe corrigan

end of

1.Bert Trautman, well before my time but THE city legend
2. Joe Corrigan,quite possibly the most underated keeper around when goalkeeping class abounded.
3.Nicky Weaver,mad as a box of frogs shame the talent was wasted

 

[Bad Kompany]

Alex Williams, one of the nicest guys i've ever met, doing the old corporate stuff at Maine Road.

Weaver, Legend, if only for 99.

But absolutley idolised TC as a kid, was mortified when he went to United, especially after years of him joining in 'if you hate man united clap your hands' in front of the Umbro stand.

So in short, TC, that i've seen.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Actually at their prime whilst with the club ? I`d have to say Joe Corrigan, as others have mentioned was extremely unlucky to be around the same time as Shilton and Clemence, on one of his few chances ( I think a 1-1 draw with Brazil) but he let one in at his near post, at the time it was likened to breaking into an orphanage, stealing all their christmas presents and pissing all over the christmas tree before making off.

I was also there for Alex Williams`s debut, the crowd that day were immense for the lad, must have made him feel ten feet tall.

 

[penalty spot]

Well when i was a kid our goalkeeper was Trautmann and even seeing life differently when you are that age, he was immense nearly every game and made remarkable saves.The thing that is different then to now is that many shots which are parried today would be caught . This could be to do with the weight of the ball which was then a great deal heavier , not sure of the specifics though somebody will no doubt know the differences. Joe Corrigan has to be second,just a pity he had to be around when there were other quality English goalkeepers.Joe Hart if he improves with dealing with the crosses could make one of our best.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

Think my username should tell you who i think.....my Dad used to bang on about Joe Corrigan...but as a young kid getting into football, Alex Williams seemed like a colossus....

 

[valalmay]

Bert trautmann for me I watched him in the late 50,s early 60's he kept city in the 1st division season after season and remember those were the days when the keeper was fair game with or without the ball not like today.

 

[Alex Harley]

I never saw Frank Swift but my first and greatest City hero was Bert Trautman Stood behind the goals on the scoreboard end for years as a young boy Memories ingrained in my head of Bert catching centres with one hand For me he will always be City's greatest keeper

 

[the goats backside]

Just a mention to Arni Arason for that fantastic night at spuds in the cup, incredible double save amongst others, i am so glad my brother convinced me to go

 

[whp.blue]

Frank Swift was the greatest ever goalie full stop according to everone who saw him play


BIG JOE in my time especially the way he knuckled down lost weight etc and became one of the best in England

I can remember fans throwing chip wrappers into the back of his net from the platt lane wooden seats

 

[Gary James]

Certainly, most of my dad's generation (he's in his early seventies) go for Trautmann as better than anyone since, while both my grandads, who'd watched City since the Hyde Road days, reckoned Big Swifty was the better of the two. I think Gary James suggested once that this view is generally shared by a majority of the fans who saw them both play.

All sorts of factors determine 'best ever' or favourites (your own age; games attended; City success/failure; game's evolution; media coverage etc.) so it's impossible to say who actually was the best.

From all the research, interviews and so on I have done the message that comes loud and clear is that - even after 1956 most fans who saw Swift at his peak and Trautmann at his reckoned that Swift was better. But they were different types of keeper - Trautmann was perceived as a brave 'keeper but Swift was an entertainer.

Swift retired far too early - others wanted to sign him (including Utd) and City were desperate for him to continue.

Personally, I take the view that City possessed the greatest British 'keeper of all time (people forget how highly Swift was rated) and also the greatest overseas 'keeper. Trautmann has talked about how good Swift was and, don't forget, when Swift travelled overseas as a newspaper reporter (mostly with Utd & England) it was the former City 'keeper who was mobbed by the locals, not the 'modern day' stars of the 50s.

As a very young boy I saw Trautmann play for part of Johnny Hart's testimonial - the reception and interest shown by my dad and the others around me in the Platt Lane was astounding and even then I realised this guy must have been pretty special. My own favourite 'keeper was Joe Corrigan.

Corrigan was voted City's greatest 'keeper of all time in the City mag the other year, but I think that proves the point about age etc.