Alistair Sperring

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Alistair Sperring
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-10-26) 26 October 1963 (age 60)
Place of birth Hayling Island, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1980–1983 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1984 Southampton 0 (0)
1984Swindon Town (loan) 0 (0)
1986 Bognor Regis Town
Hayling United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alistair Sperring (born 26 October 1963) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born on Hayling Island, Sperring began his career with Southampton in 1983, and later played for Swindon Town, Bognor Regis Town and Hayling United.

Career[edit]

Alistair Sperring initially joined the Southampton F.C. Academy as an apprentice in July 1980 at the age of 16, before signing professional terms in August 1983.[1] He made his first and only appearance for the club on 8 November 1983 in the third round of the League Cup against Rotherham United, which the Saints lost 2–1.[2] During the game, the goalkeeper missed the ball with a punch and collided with teammate Mark Wright, who had to be substituted off due to a broken nose.[1][2]

After a brief loan spell with Swindon Town between August and September 1984,[3] Sperring left Southampton.[4] He completed a trial for Reading in January 1985, and later joined Bognor Regis Town in September 1985.[1] The goalkeeper returned to Hayling Island in 1987 to end his playing career with Hayling United.[1] After retiring from football, Sperring entered the motor industry and eventually became the managing director of Havant Motor Factors, a spare parts specialist.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Chalk, Holley & Bull 2013, p. 469
  2. ^ a b Holley, Chalk & Bull 2003, p. 289
  3. ^ "Swindon Town player profile". www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ Holley, Chalk & Bull 2003, p. 581

Bibliography[edit]

  • Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013), All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC, Hagiology Publishing, ISBN 978-0992686406
  • Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary; Bull, David (2003), In That Number: A Post-War Chronicle of Southampton FC, Hagiology Publishing, ISBN 978-0953447435