who would have thought that we are only a handful of players short of a very good squad at the beginning of July My oh my
I was only aware of him at Exeter so I was interested to read of his unusual previous history. He played as a goalkeeper in non-league football until 24! I wonder if this will extend his career as an outfield player by a year or two as I have noticed that late starters at higher levels often go on to have longer careers. Seems there is only so much energy in the legs. How many other players can you think of who have played in goal and outfield? There aren't many. Charlton had the great John Hewie who was a great emergency goalkeeper, often selected from the start when our regular keeper was injured (even ahead of the reserve keeper, which must have pissed the latter off somewhat!). Hewie toyed with the idea of extending his career by playing in goal but it never actually happened. This was the period when Scottish keepers were the laughing stock of world football and Hewie was even suggested as Scotland's keeper despite only having played a handful of games there at top level. Then we had Peter Firmani (my younger brother) who never quite made the grade as a striker (famously missing a chance in the final match of the season which would have seen us immediately promoted back to the top division the season after our relegation). He was also selected in goal a few times but never made a career of it. Then there was Andy Graver, Lincoln's most famous player. He switched to goal at different times in his career but never stuck at it. Who else? I don't mean players who "have a go" (however well they do it). I mean those schizos who weren't sure if they were really goalkeepers.
Good shout! Was Steve Brown ever selected to start a competitive match? I just don't remember. But I don't think he ever contemplated a permanent switch to keeper?
I don't remember Brown starting a game in goal but he was often named as the sub keeper I remember he went in goal on a few occasions most notably away at Man City where if I'm right in remembering also pulled off a cracking save
Remember Brownie going in goal at Aston Villa, when we won 4-3 away in our last away game of the 1999-2000 season. Mills scored a screamer in the last minute.
