Three weeks back Chesterfield FC said a fond farewell to their home ground. I called it Saltergate, it is also known as Recreation Ground - less poetic but still an evocative title for a special place. Chesterfield can nobody's idea of a glamorous football location but if you are a coniseusseur of goalkeepers Chesterfield is a veritable centre of the universe.
John Lukic, Bob Wilson, Jim Brown and Alan Stevenson are legends of game and the six yard box and are deeply rooted in the Mythology of Chesterfield and their goalkeeper fixation. However the most significant Goalie Spirite is Gordon Banks. The most beloved and revered of keepers started his career at Chesterfield playing between 1955 and 1959 and very much learning his trade. Many years later he achieved world wide fame for his role in winning the World Cup with England and defying the almighty Pele at altitude in Mexico 70.
So what an honour for Martin Toal to have his picture taken with Green Jumpered Royalty. Martin was present to add some operatic gravitas to the solemn closing and farewell to Chesterfield's erstwhile home. What a lovely welcome he had and what a beautiful performance he gave.
No comments:
Post a Comment