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.

Spain & Southampton

Shilton had won his 30th England cap in a 2-0 win over Spain in March 1980; his 31st wouldn't come until the European Championships themselves. Unfortunately, it was a 1-0 defeat to Italy, which proved crucial as England failed to get through to the knockout phase.

Related Topics:
Spain - March - Italy

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Life began to decline for Shilton afterwards. Forest never reproduced any more trophy-winning form and sank into mid-table mediocrity, while Shilton began what would be a long-standing gambling addiction which would cause considerable strain to his family. There were also stories of an extra-marital affair and a conviction for drink-driving, all of which contributed to Shilton's decision to leave Nottingham Forest in 1982 and start afresh. First of all though, he had the none-too-small matter of the 1982 World Cup to consider.

Related Topics:
Gambling - Drink-driving - 1982 - 1982 World Cup

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Shilton had played in two of the qualifying games - a goalless draw against Romania and a vital 1-0 win over Hungary. Both games were at Wembley and the latter was the last game of the campaign which England had to win to qualify for the finals in Spain, leading to a potential repeat of the events against Poland in 1973. Thankfully for Shilton and England, the result was right this time and England were going to their first World Cup for a dozen years, with Shilton appearing in the finals for the first time at the comparatively ripe age of 32.

Related Topics:
Romania - Hungary - Spain

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At last Greenwood made a decision on his goalkeeping situation. Clemence played in the friendlies building up to the competition, but it was Shilton who was selected for the opening group game against France in Bilbao. England won 3-1 and Shilton stayed in goal for the two remaining group games and the two goalless draws in the second phase which saw England's exit from the competition.

Related Topics:
France - Bilbao

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Shilton duly left Forest and, despite interest from Arsenal, opted to join Southampton, where his former international team-mates Keegan and Alan Ball were both playing. With Bobby Robson now running the England team, Shilton's international career flourished, playing in Robson's first ten matches, even captaining the side in seven of them in the absence of Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins. One game, a 2-0 win over Scotland, earned Shilton his 50th cap.

Related Topics:
Arsenal - Alan Ball - Bobby Robson - Bryan Robson - Ray Wilkins

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When Clemence came back for a qualifier for the 1984 European Championships against Luxembourg, Shilton did not need to worry. The game, Clemence's 61st for his country, also turned out to be his last.

Related Topics:
1984 European Championships - Luxembourg

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England failed to qualify for the European Championships, while at Southampton, Shilton suffered FA Cup semi final heartbreak again when he was beaten by a last minute Adrian Heath header which gave Everton a place in the final. However, he was now undisputably the first choice goalkeeper for his country. It was 1985 before Shilton was once more not selected for an England game - and even then it was so Robson could give a debut to the Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey in a meaningless friendly. Shilton was still the keeper for the qualifying campaign for the 1986 World Cup, which thus far had seen three wins from three matches and no goals conceded.

Related Topics:
Adrian Heath - Everton - 1985 - Manchester United - Gary Bailey - 1986 World Cup

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A 70th cap came Shilton's way in a shock 1-0 defeat against Scotland at Hampden Park; he later saved a penalty as England satisfyingly beat West Germany 3-0 in a tour match in Mexico, a year before England were hoping to return there for the World Cup.

Related Topics:
Hampden Park - West Germany - Mexico

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This was assured as England went through the whole qualifying campaign undefeated and by the time they played Mexico in an acclimatisation match prior to the competition, Shilton was 80 games into his England career, having beaten Banks' record for a goalkeeper of 73 caps the previous year against Turkey.

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