Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton MBE OBE (born Leicester, England, September 18, 1949) was an outstanding goalkeeper who holds the record for most international appearances for his country.

England Calls

An ambitious Shilton considered moving from Leicester after relegation, but decided to stick with his boyhood team. This decision was vindicated when, despite playing at a lower level, he impressed England manager Alf Ramsey sufficiently to give him his debut against East Germany in November 1970. England won 3-1. Little more than six months later, Shilton's outstanding performances helped Leicester to promotion back to the First Division.

Related Topics:
England - Alf Ramsey - East Germany - November - 1970

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His second England cap came in a goalless draw against Wales at Wembley; and his first competitive match for his country was his third appearance as England drew 1-1 with Switzerland in a qualifying game for the 1972 European Championships. At this stage, Banks was still England's first choice keeper, but the remaining brace of back-ups from the 1970 World Cup, Peter Bonetti and Alex Stepney, had been cast aside by Ramsey so Shilton could begin to regard himself as his country's number two goalkeeper at the age of 22.

Related Topics:
Wales - Switzerland - 1972 European Championships - 1970 World Cup - Peter Bonetti - Alex Stepney

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Life with Leicester City rumbled on in a rather event-free manner as Shilton's England career progressed. His fourth and fifth England caps came towards the end of 1972 (England had failed to qualify for the European Championship competition) but then a tragic incident suddenly saw Shilton propelled into the limelight as England's number one keeper.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In October 1972, Banks was involved in a car crash which resulted in the loss of the sight in one eye and instantly ended his career. Though Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence was called up to make his debut a month later in England's opening qualifier for the 1974 World Cup, (a 1-0 win over Wales) it was clear that Shilton suddenly had to bear responsibility for keeping England's goal.

Related Topics:
October - 1972 - Eye - Liverpool - Ray Clemence - 1974 World Cup

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This he did with aplomb through the summer of 1973, keeping three clean sheets as England defeated Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, while drawing with Czechoslovakia - a match which earned Shilton his tenth cap - as a warm-up to a crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland in Chorzow a week later. This went badly wrong for England, with Shilton powerless to stop both goals in a 2-0 defeat and therefore making victory in the final qualifier, against the same opposition at Wembley four months later, a necessity if England were to make the finals.

Related Topics:
1973 - Northern Ireland - Scotland - Czechoslovakia - Poland - Chorzow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~