Neil's Dream Team - the Custodians of the Net

By Neil Ravenscroft
February 6 2003

Neil Ravenscroft starts an occaisional feature, looking at his Walsall Dream Team. The starting place, of course, has to be the keeper.

It's always fun starting a good arguement about who was the greatest to don the shirt, and, even though TheSaddlersFC readers have their chance to vote for the Walsall Legends Squad every year, I still thought it was an idea to bring the benefit of 40 years pain to bear on the isssue.

Walsall has seemed to be fortunate in its choice of keepers over the years and several of them have passed into club folklore.
By all accounts (although he was before even my time), Bert Williams was probably amongst the very finest, not just for us, but, as my experiences go back to the sixties, I can't comment further.

The first keeper who really impressed me as a youth was Bob Wesson. He was a tall, imposing figure, who always gave a feeling of reassurance when watching him. (I always think his stats may prove different, though).
Keith Ball, in his first spell with us always stuck in the memory too, but I might be biased, as I managed to score past him some years later!

I was always a great admirer of Mark Wallington. He always gave the impression to me that he could have had even greater success than he achieved after he left us.

Ron Green always was dependable and also gave us (eventually) the terrace chant of "Ron Green, Ron Green, Ronny Ronny Green, he's got no hair and we don't care, Ronny Ronny Green", which was of some small amusement.

In later years, Fred Barber and Trevor Wood were both extremely capable and carried on a tradition that was building of dependability.

So who was the best?

The three obvoiusly left out so far are:-

At number 3, Mick Kearns. Walsall's most capped player, an excellent shot stopper for someone of his height. Unfortunately, he doesn't make quite as good a radio commentator.

At number 2 (and please don't hit me), Jimmy Walker. Wakker has been, to my mind, one of the best keepers outside of the Premiership for several years. A wonderful shot stopper and someone whose character always seems to buoy up the rest of the side.

At number 1? Phil Parkes. Tall, imposing, great reflexes, he gets the vote over Jimmy, as he still managed an England cap in the face of competition from Shilton and Clemence. (When I say imposing, I once saw an opposition forward carried off with a serious injury caused by kicking Parkes in the chest).

As a consolation, I'll give Jimmy the vote for the best save I've ever seen, that triple effort against West Ham in the Cup, closely folowed by his effort at the end of the Brighton game last week.

Of course, I gave the vote to Parkes, mainly because of his winning an England cap. So, if Sven sees sense for the Australia game next week.........................