Neville Southall

**Pretty Boy** · 11-11-2022 08:53 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ville-southall

Not sure if anyone else watched the documentary linked above during the week. It was only on BBC Wales on TV but is available on iplayer (obviously given the link). Well worth half an hour of anyone's time.

Southall's heyday was a wee bit before my time but I remember as I tentatively made my own way in football as a goalkeeper being fascinated by this big fat guy who seemed to defy gravity with the agility he had. He seems to be often overlooked when the talk of the great British goalkeepers or Premier League goalkeepers (I know his peak was pre the Premiership) is being discussed but in the documentary Ian Rush states that he believes for a 4 or 5 year period in the late 80s and early 90s Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world.

My real exposure to Southall has been through his Twitter account and his work with mental health charities, campaigning for the rights of sex workers, for gay rights and his strong socialist views mark him out as a pretty decent sort to me.

Anyone got any recollections of him as a player?

***Scouse Hibee*** · 11-11-2022 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ville-southall

Not sure if anyone else watched the documentary linked above during the week. It was only on BBC Wales on TV but is available on iplayer (obviously given the link). Well worth half an hour of anyone's time.

Southall's heyday was a wee bit before my time but I remember as I tentatively made my own way in football as a goalkeeper being fascinated by this big fat guy who seemed to defy gravity with the agility he had. He seems to be often overlooked when the talk of the great British goalkeepers or Premier League goalkeepers (I know his peak was pre the Premiership) is being discussed but in the documentary Ian Rush states that he believes for a 4 or 5 year period in the late 80s and early 90s Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world.

My real exposure to Southall has been through his Twitter account and his work with mental health charities, campaigning for the rights of sex workers, for gay rights and his strong socialist views mark him out as a pretty decent sort to me.

Anyone got any recollections of him as a player?

Yes plenty, he was a phenomenal keeper and I often refer to him in conversation as the best in the world in his heyday.

**Renfrew_Hibby** · 11-11-2022 09:27 AM

Easily one of the best in the world in the 80s, Everton fans absolutely idolise him.
Very unlucky not to play on the World Cup stage and could very well have been a European Cup winner had it not been for Heysel.

***nonshinyfinish*** · 11-11-2022 09:33 AM

"Well done, he's 13"

***JimBHibees*** · 11-11-2022 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by nonshinyfinish

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"Well done, he's 13"

That's brilliant that video sums him up well as it does for Owen also imo.

***zitelli62*** · 11-11-2022 10:37 AM

Played in a great everton team and yes he was one of the best if not the best keeper in the world, I'm sure it was him that stayed on the pitch at half time one week in some sort of protest or maybe my mind playing tricks with me.

**Donegal Hibby** · 11-11-2022 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Yes plenty, he was a phenomenal keeper and I often refer to him in conversation as the best in the world in his heyday.

I agree he was a outstanding keeper often wonder why Liverpool or Utd didn't try and sign him ? , Maybe both had very good keepers at that time.

**JeMeSouviens** · 11-11-2022 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Donegal Hibby

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I agree he was a outstanding keeper often wonder why Liverpool or Utd didn't try and sign him ? , Maybe both had very good keepers at that time.

In Southall's heyday, Everton were better than Man U and, at least for a couple of years, the equal of Liverpool and arguably as big as either. Wages would've been eeksy-peeksy as well probably.

**Pretty Boy** · 11-11-2022 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Donegal Hibby

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I agree he was a outstanding keeper often wonder why Liverpool or Utd didn't try and sign him ? , Maybe both had very good keepers at that time.

I'm sure Man Utd did express interest in him after the Leighton/Sealey/Walsh era. They opted for Peter Schmeichel though which wasn't a terrible decision tbh.

Also worth remembering Everton were a much, much better team than United for much of the 80s.

**Donegal Hibby** · 11-11-2022 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

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In Southall's heyday, Everton were better than Man U and, at least for a couple of years, the equal of Liverpool and arguably as big as either. Wages would've been eeksy-peeksy as well probably.

Cheers , hard to imagine that with the way things are now though. Changed days.

***JimBHibees*** · 11-11-2022 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by zitelli62

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Played in a great everton team and yes he was one of the best if not the best keeper in the world, I'm sure it was him that stayed on the pitch at half time one week in some sort of protest or maybe my mind playing tricks with me.

Yep sat down leaning against the post think he was annoyed at himself for letting in a soft goal.

***BILLYHIBS*** · 11-11-2022 10:58 AM

From what I remember he was miles better than England #1 Jordan Pickford

Less errors in his locker

We will soon find out 😀

***Groathillgrump*** · 11-11-2022 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by nonshinyfinish

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"Well done, he's 13"

The biggest take from that video is that Michael Owen is a prick.

**Donegal Hibby** · 11-11-2022 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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I'm sure Man Utd did express interest in him after the Leighton/Sealey/Walsh era. They opted for Peter Schmeichel though which wasn't a terrible decision tbh.

Also worth remembering Everton were a much, much better team than United for much of the 80s.

Peter schmeichel was some keeper in all, 505,000 he cost Man u , Ferguson at the time described it as the " bargain of the century" ,didn't realize he played for city as well even Southall only cost 150,000 and Kendall described him once as the best keeper outside "the big 3 " of Clemence , Shilton and Corrigan , the last one I don't remember ,Goes to show how crazy signing players has become since too.i enjoyed watching this on Southall's saves
https://youtu.be/gGoFwfs6V8M

**Lago** · 11-11-2022 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Yes plenty, he was a phenomenal keeper and I often refer to him in conversation as the best in the world in his heyday.

Totally agree, some of the saves he brought off defied belief

**HoboHarry** · 11-11-2022 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Renfrew_Hibby

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Easily one of the best in the world in the 80s, Everton fans absolutely idolise him.
Very unlucky not to play on the World Cup stage and could very well have been a European Cup winner had it not been for Heysel.

Absolutely fantastic goalkeeper.....

**Renfrew_Hibby** · 11-11-2022 01:11 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkdVBXc8PVU

Really enjoyable 10 minutes viewing.

**BH Hibs** · 11-11-2022 04:33 PM

He was a great keeper possibly didn’t get the recognition he deserved as he wasn’t a media darling like Shilton etc. There’s a great interview with him signing for Everton on the Sky documentary Howard’s Way where he tells the story that he was teetotal and that Everton team all loved a bevvy and Kendall was trying to take him out for a beer. Was up there with the best in the world.

***Hibernia&Alba*** · 05-12-2022 05:21 PM

Top man, telling Farage where to stick his nonsense.

Needs to be watching his weight at his age, though. If it was a loved one, you'd be worried for him.

***Winston Ingram*** · 05-12-2022 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ville-southall

Not sure if anyone else watched the documentary linked above during the week. It was only on BBC Wales on TV but is available on iplayer (obviously given the link). Well worth half an hour of anyone's time.

Southall's heyday was a wee bit before my time but I remember as I tentatively made my own way in football as a goalkeeper being fascinated by this big fat guy who seemed to defy gravity with the agility he had. He seems to be often overlooked when the talk of the great British goalkeepers or Premier League goalkeepers (I know his peak was pre the Premiership) is being discussed but in the documentary Ian Rush states that he believes for a 4 or 5 year period in the late 80s and early 90s Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world.

My real exposure to Southall has been through his Twitter account and his work with mental health charities, campaigning for the rights of sex workers, for gay rights and his strong socialist views mark him out as a pretty decent sort to me.

Anyone got any recollections of him as a player?

Southall was incredible. When Everton won the league in 85, he was pulling off wonder save a week.

I particularly remember one he pulled off from Mark Falco at White Hart Lane. They wouldn’t have won the league without him.

**Donegal Hibby** · 05-12-2022 05:32 PM

Thought that was brilliant H&A . What a top class bloke Neville Southall is

***McD*** · 05-12-2022 05:35 PM

There was a match he played for wales in the 90s, against Holland, where the Dutch won 7-1. I remember the reporter at the game going on and on about how well Southall was playing, he won man of the match I think.

my dad was a keeper, and I asked him how could get hammered like that and the keeper get motm, he explained about how bad it could have been without Southall

**hibsbollah** · 05-12-2022 05:41 PM

He was a sensational keeper with a bit of the Budgie Burridge about him, an intimidator but with more natural ability. As has been said, Everton don’t win the league in the mid 80s without him.

And I’m loving his political chat post retirement. Proper socialist who cares about people.