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Gordon West

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For the cricketer, see Gordon West (cricketer).

Gordon West
Personal information
Full name Gordon West
Date of birth (1943-04-24)24 April 1943
Place of birth Darfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Date of death 10 June 2012(2012-06-10) (aged 69)
Place of death Brighton-le-Sands, Merseyside, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1962 Blackpool 33 (0)
1962–1973 Everton 402 (0)
1976–1979 Tranmere Rovers 17 (0)
Total 452 (0)
International career
1968–1969 England 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gordon West (24 April 1943 — 10 June 2012) was an English professional football goalkeeper. He won three international caps in a career that included a long stint at Everton.

Club career

Blackpool

West played as a defender for Barnsley, Don and Dearne Boys, but when accompanying a friend to a trial with Blackpool decided to try out as a goalkeeper.[1] The Lancashire club signed him, and West made his debut for Blackpool at the age of 17.[2] After 33 League games for the Tangerines, he signed for Everton in March 1962 for £27,000, then a British record for a goalkeeper,[2] replacing Albert Dunlop.

Everton

In his first full season on Merseyside, West won the 1962–63 Football League First Division with Everton.[1] He became the club's first-choice goalkeeper for more than ten years, forming a partnership with central defender and captain, Brian Labone.[1] In that period he won the FA Cup in 1966 and was a runner-up in 1968.[1] In 1969–70 Everton won the league again, with West keeping 21 clean sheets, still a club record.[3] He made 399 appearances for the Toffees and retired in 1973.[4]

Tranmere Rovers

West came out of retirement after three years to play briefly for cross-Mersey rivals Tranmere Rovers. He made seventeen League appearances for the Wirral club.

International career

West won three caps for England. He turned down a place in the 1970 FIFA World Cup squad because he wanted to stay at home with his family.[2]

Life after football

After giving up football, West worked in security at RAF Woodvale[4] and became an after dinner speaker. Former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall campaigned for West to be rewarded with a testimonial game by Everton for his eleven years of service.[citation needed] West lived in Brighton-le-Sands, Merseyside. On 10 June 2012, West died[5] of cancer in hospital. He is survived by his girlfriend Linda and his sons Stephen and Mark.[6]

His funeral was attended by Martin Buchan, Colin Harvey, Dave Hickson, John Hurst Cliff Marshall, Peter Reid, George Telfer, Derek Temple, Tommy Wright[disambiguation needed] and former player and manager Joe Royle, along with former chairman Sir Philip Carter, who paid tribute at the service.[7]

Honours

with Everton[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Szczepanik, Nick (11 June 2012). "Gordon West obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905411-50-2.
  3. ^ Lewis, Andy (11 June 2012). "Gordon West 1943-2012". evertonfc.com. Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Gordon West". Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Gordon West". Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Gordon West dies of cancer". www.liverpoolecho.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Gordon West Funeral". www.evertonfpf.org.
  8. ^ "1963/64 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. ^ "1970/71 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
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