Sheffield United's greatest goalkeepers, part 2: our middling to fair custodians

From worst to best: a statistical and opinion-based analysis of every Sheffield United goalkeeper from the last 40 years

David Beeden 

Carrying on the piece I started recently, today I count down numbers 25-11, before returning with my top 10 and the final statistics

25. Jordan Amissah 

Total Appearances for United: 1 (2022-23) 

Clean sheets: 1 

Goals conceded: 0 

Goals conceded per game: 0 

Amissah was always seemingly behind Messrs Foderingham, Davies, Eastwood and Dewhurst and before that, Ramsdale, Verrips and Olsen were ahead of him.

He came on at Luton when Wes Foderingham was erm… taken unwell. We had to negotiate a tricky period with Luton’s direct game a concern for a young keeper pressed into action on debut. I can only judge on the 12 minutes he played, but he did well. He made a few saves, caught a few crosses, and helped us get a valuable point. He’s a big lad and seemed to have the attributes you would want in a goalkeeper but his performances for the u23s and u21s were always mixed and he never quite kicked on like we might’ve wanted. 

United moment: Must be the Luton game. 

Career pre- and post-United: Born in Germany, Amissah is of Ghanian descent and was called up to the Ghana squad for the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations. He started his career in youth football in Germany and was on the books at Borussia Dortmund before coming over to the UK in 2018. He signed his first pro deal in 2021 and had loan moves at Guiseley and Spennymoor when not playing for the Blades development sides. He had mixed results on loan and saved a few penalties but was also sent off for punching player!

After his Luton cameo, he went on loan to Burton Albion. He made an error on his debut and they lost heavily at home the next game. He was taken out of the side but then played well in win against Cambridge at the end of the season. He left United at the end of 23/24, and now plays for Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

24. Frank Talia 

Total Appearances for United: 6 (2000-01) 

Clean sheets: 2 

Goals conceded: 7 

Goals conceded per game: 1.2 

Simon Tracey had been an ever present until April 2001 but picked up an injury and Talia, who had been his understudy since signing in September, got his chance. I remember he did quite well and made some good saves, helping us earn a point on his debut against Norwich. He was left badly exposed in a dreadful defeat at the Priestfield when Gillingham scored four but then only conceded two goals in his final four games and we looked much tighter in defence. He had a good match in the final game at Bolton and was only beaten at the death as the home side salvaged a late draw. He was quite athletic and I was surprised when he was released at the end of the season.  

United moment: I thought he played well on debut against Norwich but he also made some good saves at Blundell Park as United won in the sunshine thanks to a Peter Ndlovu strike. 

Career pre- and post-United: Talia was born in Melbourne and started at the Australian Institute of Sport before joining the delightfully-named Sunshine Georgies. Blackburn saw something in him to bring him over and he covered for Bobby Mimms and Tim Flowers in the Premier League but never actually played a first-team game. He moved on to Swindon Town and established himself there, winning the player of the year award in 2000. A brief spell at Wolves followed before he came to Bramall Lane. After his single season with us, he joined Antwerp, but did not play much and returned to the UK with firstly Reading and then Wycombe where he became number one over a lengthy spell and remained at Adams Park for five years.

There was also the story of him almost chopping off his toe whilst mowing the lawn! He now runs his own property investment company in London. 

23. Phil Kite 

Total Appearances for United: 18 (1990-93) 

Clean sheets: 3 

Goals conceded: 29  

Goals conceded per game: 1.6 

I remember thinking what a silly name he had when we signed him, but I was only 12 at the time. It was a typical Bassett cheap signing as we had no money and most of the players we signed that summer for our first crack at the big league for a long time were lower-league journeymen. Kite was not expected to play much with Tracey the previous season’s player of the year. However, Tracey got injured on opening day and after John Pemberton’s less-than-successful dalliance with the gloves (we didn’t name a sub keeper – only two subs back then), Kite was soon in the side. Tracey had fractured his cheekbone, so Kite played the next seven games.

Kite did well on debut at the Baseball Ground and kept us in the game until Deane’s late equaliser. After this, he didn’t make many clangers but the whole side was struggling – it was the season we did not win until nearly Christmas. He was neither outstanding or terrible, and played a few Rumbelows Cup games too.

The following season United started badly again, Tracey got another injury around mid-September and Kite played another run of seven games – four in the league and three in the Rumbelows Cup. He kept a clean sheet against Wimbledon but then conceded nine goals in the next three eventful games with Leeds, Man City and Forest (we won the final game). After this, he played once more in the FA Cup fifth round defeat at Chelsea.

I have very vague memories of Kite. He was a drop-off from Tracey, but again, I can’t think of too many howlers. He was forgettable – and I mean that neither in a good or bad way.   

United moment: Probably the game at Leeds when we lost 4-3 and he was penalised for handball outside the box. Replays showed this was a nonsense and an awful decision.  

Career pre- and post-United: Kite grew up in Bristol and began at hometown Rovers, playing 96 times between 1980 and 1984 before moving to Southampton, but it was only when he moved to Gillingham he began to play regularly. He had a brief spell at Bournemouth before Dave Bassett signed him as cover for Tracey. Kite had five loan spells during his three-year tenure at the Lane before he left permanently for Cardiff and then back to Bristol, this time with City, to end his playing career. After he packed up, Kite became goalkeeping coach and then a physiotherapist back at Bristol Rovers before retiring in 2015 after spending 24 years in various roles with the club.  

22. Alan Fettis 

Total Appearances for United: 3 (2003-04) 

Clean sheets: 2 

Goals conceded: 2 

Goals conceded per game: 0.7 

Fettis signed on loan from Hull after Paddy Kenny was injured. We opted to bring both him and Lee Baxter (a relative unknown in comparison) to deputise. It was odd signing two goalkeepers in the same week and it seemed to be the case that Warnock would go with who did the best in training. United went with Baxter at Turf Moor after he allegedly looked the better option: this seemed odd, as Fettis was an experienced keeper – albeit mostly in the lower leagues – and had played for Northern Ireland. The move will go down in United folklore, as Baxter had an absolute nightmare.

Warnock made the bold but right decision to bring Fettis on and we looked much better with him between the sticks. Unsurprisingly, he kept his place for the following game, a 2-0 win at home to Walsall where he looked solid. We drew the next game, I don’t think he made any mistakes, and Kenny was back soon after. Fettis lasted longer than Baxter and remained in the squad for a period before returning to Hull. 

United moment: He did well in the win against Walsall but his moment will always be having to come on as a sub at Burnley – a rarity and of course an embarrassment for the outgoing keeper.  

Career pre- and post-United: Fettis played for Glentoran in Northern Ireland before he signed for Hull, becoming a regular at Boothferry Park. He even scored twice for them as an outfield player, when he was used as a centre forward off the bench during an injury crisis! He moved to Forest and Blackburn but only became a starting keeper when he signed for York around the millennium. He returned to Hull in 2003 and after more loan spells, including that at the Lane, he became number one at Macclesfield before ending his career at Bury.

Fettis went on to become a goalkeeping coach at Cheltenham, Sunderland and then the Manchester United academy where Victor Valdés thanked him for prolonging his career. He went to Middlesbrough in 2022 when Chris Wilder joined and remains their goalkeeping coach.  

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21. Billy Mercer 

Total Appearances for United: 4 (1994-95) 

Clean sheets: 0 

Goals conceded: 9 

Goals conceded per game: 2.25 

Mercer signed for the Blades after we were relegated from the Premier League, but with two excellent keepers already at the Lane, he would find his chances limited. However, Kelly and Tracey were starting to pick up injuries, and when both were unavailable, he made his debut in a win against Derby. His next game, in a strange quirk of fate, was the return at the Baseball Ground and another Blades win, with Whitehouse scoring in both!

He played in the draw at home to Stoke but did not play again until 95/96, where he saw early-season action and a Dean Gordon howitzer fairly fly past him in a 2-3 home defeat to Crystal Palace. He was not as secure as the previous season where he looked quite promising and made some good saves in the two Derby games. He was quite small for a keeper (listed as 6’1’, which seems generous) and whilst he was a good shot stopper, he was another keeper who did not deal well with crosses. He moved on for regular first team football. 

United moment: His debut, a 2-1 win against Derby, and I do remember one really good save to help preserve the three points. 

Career pre- and post-United: Mercer was born in Liverpool and on the books at Anfield before moving to Rotherham. As a Reds fan he attended the game of the Hillsborough disaster not long after signing at Millmoor. He played over 100 times for Rotherham before impressing on United’s end of season tour of Australia and signing in October 1994 as cover for Kelly and Tracey. He was only with United for around a year and left on loan at Chesterfield before moving permanently.

Mercer moved to Bristol City and stayed on to be goalkeeping coach after he stopped playing. He ended up back in Sheffield but over the city, following Brian Laws to Burnley, coaching there for over 12 years in their most successful period for a long time. Mercer then came back to South Yorkshire and Rotherham where he supported the goalkeepers for a period but left when Paul Warne departed. He also had a spell helping out at Everton when another former Blade, Alan Kelly, was injured. 

20. Carl Ikeme 

Total Appearances for United: 2 (2009-10) 

Clean sheets: 1 

Goals conceded: 2 

Goals conceded per game: 1 

United had struggled in the 09/10 campaign and Mark Bunn had not been convincing. Ikeme came in from Wolves and we did well in his two games, winning both. He looked imposing and dominated far more than Bunn did. He played in a crazy win at Bristol City when Darius Henderson scored a hat trick, including a late winner, as goals pinged in both ends at the close of the game. Ikeme then kept a clean sheet at Plymouth. United wanted to keep him but he sadly picked up a hamstring injury and had to return to Molineux. High up this list for a two-game spell, but we won both and he did well! 

United moment: The first game where he conceded two but also made some big saves to allow us to escape with a victory from Ashton Gate. 

Career pre- and post-United: Ikeme spent his whole career at Wolves from 2003-2018 and played 191 times. However, he went on loan to eight clubs (Doncaster twice) playing a further 65 times, and won 10 caps for Nigeria in his career. In 2017 he was diagnosed with acute leukemia and did not play the following season – he eventually retired on medical grounds but announced that he was in complete remission in July 2018. Wolves’ new keeper Rui Patrício did not wear the number one as a tribute, choosing 11 instead.

Ikeme took up Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has won the British Open, along with a bronze medal at the European Championship.

19. Paul Tomlinson 

Total Appearances for United: 46 (1982-86) 

Clean sheets: 17 

Goals conceded: 55  

Goals conceded per game: 1.2 

Going right back to my early days of watching United, Tomlinson was the young keeper who backed up Keith Waugh, our number one of a large period of the early- to mid-80s. The Rotherham-born trainee started as a full-back in the Northern Intermediate League but then played in goal for the Juniors and found a new position – almost unheard of so late in a player’s development.

He looked very promising: a tall and gangly goalkeeper standing 6’2’’, he played some friendly games for the first team and then in the 83/84 season made his debut and saved a penalty, replacing Waugh as United pipped Hull to promotion. He did well and made some big saves in important games, but Waugh regained his place for the next season and after John Burridge arrived, Tomlinson’s early promise was not really fulfilled as he barely played.  

He remained with the Blades for three years and his outfield prowess was shown when he scored in a friendly in Dallas on the 1985 end of season tour. Tomlinson played once on loan at Birmingham before, with no chance of any first team action, he signed for Bradford for a club record £47,500 in June 1987. 

I always thought Tomlinson was a bit like George Long in that he showed a great deal of promise and looked like he would become our number one for years to come, but was another confidence keeper and mistakes would affect him, especially at Bramall Lane. He was a good shot stopper, but maybe lacked the overall command to be a top keeper, which was why we sought more experience in such a key position. 

United moment: Has to be his debut – a 5-0 win and saved a saved penalty against Southend (like Mervyn Day, but a winning start!).  

Career pre- and post-United: He immediately became the Bantams’ first choice, playing nearly 300 games and setting the record for appearances made as a goalkeeper for the club. I remember him playing against us when Billy McEwan took an abject Blades team to Valley Parade – and Stuart McCall and Ian Ormondroyd saw high-flying City win easily. However, City missed out on promotion that season, denying him the chance to play in the top flight. He remained until 1995 but then contract negotiations broke down and at only 30 years old, he drifted out of the game. He did return to the region and ran a pub in the Dronfield area, the Hyde Park Inn.  

18. Adam Davies 

Total Appearances for United: 12 (2021-present) 

Clean sheets: 4 

Goals conceded: 11 

Goals conceded per game: 0.9 

Davies was signed as cover for Wes Foderingham in January 2022. There was some debate over whether it was a short-term deal or a loan but it quicky emerged it was a permanent deal, with talk of a fee of around £250,000. Davies did not play at all as Foderingham was in impressive form, but the Welsh keeper signed a two-year deal in the summer to remain. He finally got his chance after Foderingham was sent off for fighting at the end of the wild draw with Blackpool, but conceded a late penalty in the defeat at Coventry on his debut and then had a calamitous home bow as he kicked the ball against Pukki and it bounced into the net. He was slow to get down on the second goal, but recovered to save a crucial penalty to preserve a point and then kept a clean sheet in the win at West Brom.  

He did not play again until the FA Cup win at Millwall and became our cup keeper for the next run of games. He looked decidedly unconvincing in the game at Wrexham as long throws and high balls saw him struggle, but was better in the replay and saved another penalty.

After an inauspicious start, he settled down and has been competent enough but would always concern me if he was number one long term, especially at the higher levels. With Foderingham and others departing over the summer, he was given a new deal, which was a surprise when so many others left who were out of contact. Davies had not been close to the first team at the end of last season but then ended up starting this campaign – playing against Preston and QPR – although he was back on the bench when Michael Cooper came into the club. Expect him to remain as back-up but keep an eye out for the development of youngster Luke Faxon, who could to come in and take this role in the coming seasons, assuming Cooper experiences continued success as the starter.  

United moment: He saved a penalty in the league game against Norwich but the one against Wrexham, after one had already gone past him was huge. The stop against Paul Mullin allowed United to go on and win but also eventually go on a cup run and make the semifinals.  

Career pre- and post-United: Davies was born in Germany, due to his Dad serving in the forces, but grew up in Warrington. He started his career in the Everton youth system but was released and joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2012 at the age of 20. He was there for two seasons as back up to Chris Kirkland but did not make an appearance.

He finally made his first team debut in professional football at Barnsley at the age of 22 and for the next five years established himself as the number one for the Tykes, playing under Paul Heckingbottom. Davies won twice at Wembley as Barnsley went up from League One via the playoffs and won the Football League Trophy. Barnsley went down but came back up in 18/19 and he was named in the PFA League One team of the season.

He was out of contract and joined Stoke City, but was only a regular for one of the three seasons he was with the Potters before signing for United in January 2022. Davies has played five times for Wales and was part of the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  

17. Graham Benstead 

Total Appearances for United: 64 (1988-90) 

Clean sheets: 17 

Goals conceded: 80 

Goals conceded per game: 1.25 

United were struggling at the foot of the second division (now Championship) and were having goalkeeping issues with Andy Leaning struggling and loanee Hans Segers not retained. Leaning and United had conceded five goals at Leeds, so new manager Dave Bassett took Benstead on loan from Norwich, remembering him from his Wimbledon days. He went straight into the United side and they beat Ipswich 4-1 but came back down to earth with a 6-0 defeat at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park. It was a poor Blades side being reshaped frantically by Bassett, and the Blades went down in the playoffs.  

The next season Benstead, now signed full time, was the first-choice keeper. He was steady, good at saving penalties (saved four) and a decent shot stopper, but struggled with crosses. I can’t think of him having many dreadful games but we dominated teams a lot in that promotion season and with the firepower we had, we were too strong for most.

I do remember it being a surprise when Bassett brought another keeper in – Simon Tracey, another with Wimbledon connections – in March 1989. Benstead remained number one until the final run of games. Although these were still the days when substitute keepers weren’t a concept, Benstead was named on the bench for the final match, as the only way we could not go up was if we conceded a large number of goals (a 10+ goal swing for Port Vale to overhaul us).

The following season, another promotion campaign, Tracey was outstanding and Benstead was his back-up for the entirety.

United moment: The rollercoaster start of a convincing win and more convincing drubbing.

Career pre- and post-United: Benstead starter his career at Wimbledon as a youngster and moved to QPR but only played one game before signing for Norwich. He was never first choice, with competition from Bryan Gunn, and went on loan to Colchester before settling in Sheffield. After he left the Lane, he went to Brentford and was there for three seasons before he signed for then-league-club Rushden and Diamonds. He played for a number of non-league clubs and was assistant manager at Stevenage Borough before moving out of the game and becoming a painter and decorator in the Woking area. 

16. Ian Bennett 

Total Appearances for United: 29 (2004-05, 2006-10) 

Clean sheets: 11 

Goals conceded: 36  

Goals conceded per game: 1.2 

Bennett, like Gerrard, had two spells with United. He was a keeper Warnock knew and trusted, and someone who would rarely let the side down when he played. He was at United for five seasons in total (four campaigns in the second period he spent with us) and seemed a good lad who was a solid pro that didn’t let us down.  

He was not flashy but was competent. Even when he came into the side in the Premier League, I am not sure he could do much with the goals we conceded against Reading at the Lane or at the Emirates in two defeats. He always seemed to play between two and five games a season but again when called upon, he was solid. Warnock has of course continued to employ him at various clubs in a coaching capacity.  

United moment: Like Gerrard, a game against Coventry. He saved a penalty in the 2-1 away success on Boxing Day 2004. 

Career pre- and post-United: Bennett was born in Worksop and was a trainee at QPR but ended up at Newcastle, although he never played a first team game. He first came to prominence in the professional game at Peterborough – Barry Fry took him to Birmingham and he was a virtual ever-present for the next five seasons at St Andrew’s.

He lost his place at the turn of the millennium as Nico Vaesen and Maik Taylor were preferred, and then had loans at United and Coventry before signing for Leeds as deputy to Neil Sullivan. He returned to United before ending his playing career at Huddersfield and played well into his forties. Bennett moved into coaching and has been with Huddersfield, Forest and then Middlesborough under Warnock.  

15. Hans Segers 

Total Appearance for United: 11 (1987-88) 

Clean sheets: 2 

Goals conceded: 15 

Goals conceded per game: 1.4 

I can see people foaming at the mouth that Segers is so high on this list after his contributions to our demise from the top flight some years after he played for us. However, this rating and discussion is based on his spell for United, and I have to say, he was for the most part outstanding when he played for us.

We had been subjected to the mistake-ridden Andy Leaning and, when Roger Hansbury had his loan curtailed, we had a real gap in a key position. Segers was brought in on loan from Forest. He instantly improved the side and was very agile with an impressive kick. He looked a top keeper and new manager Bassett made noises about retaining him but after three months on loan, he returned to Forest as we could not afford to keep him. We then went back to Leaning and latterly Benstead in a season in which we had four keepers (five if you count Paul Stancliffe!) and ended up relegated.  

United moment: Another whose moment was not whilst he played at the Lane – where he did well – but later in his career. In May 1994, while playing for Wimbledon, he was culpable for at least one goal as Everton won 3-2 and saved themselves, in turn relegating United. Sometime after there were allegations of match fixing with Segers and John Fashanu implicated but no charges were brought. I’ll let you review the footage and decide. 

Career pre- and post-United: Born in Eindhoven, Holland, Johannes (Hans) Segers started out at hometown PSV before Brian Clough brought him to Nottingham. He did well initially but lost his place to Steve Sutton and had loan spells with us, Stoke and Dunfermline before eventually going to Wimbledon (to replace Dave Beasant. It was here he made himself a number one and really established himself. He played 262 times over an eight-season span and despite the above controversy, he was well-regarded as a solid top-flight goalkeeper. He moved to Wolves and then Spurs but played sparingly before he went into coaching at Spurs and then for the Australian national team.

14. Andy Goram 

Total Appearances for United: 9 (1998) 

Clean sheets: 1 

Goals conceded: 12 

Goals conceded per game: 1.3 

Goram had a brief spell with United towards the end of his career but showed the qualities that had seen him incredibly successful at Rangers. Signed by Steve Bruce, Goram came in when both Tracey and Kelly were injured. He played six successive games in the September of the 98/99 season and we won three, drew one and lost two – including a two-legged league cup defeat to Grimsby. He wasn’t as athletic as he had been and was carrying some extra weight (he was never particularly slender, even at the height of his career!), but he made some decent saves in these games, and even at 34 showed his reflexes and ability to organise his defence. After Tracey got injured again, Goram returned for three more games – we won two of these.

United moment: A 3-2 win at Port Vale when he made some crucial saves in the mud at Vale Park with Saunders, Stuart and Katchouro scoring. This was to be his final game but he started with a 3-2 win (against Grimsby) and finished with one too! 

Career pre- and post-United: Born in Bury, Goram started his career at West Brom but moved to Oldham where he had seven successful years. He moved north of the border to Hibernian and not only excelled in goal but scored with a long kick. In 1991 he moved for £1 million to Rangers, replacing Chris Woods who had moved to Wednesday. He had the best spell of his career at Ibrox, winning numerous honours and becoming Scotland’s number one, battling with Jim Leighton over the decade.

He played in the Champions League and won 10 domestic trophies including five SPL titles. He was also named Scottish Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player in this period. Goram played in Euro 96 and he was in goal when Gazza scored ‘that goal’.

Goram went to Notts County, Motherwell, United, Coventry and bizarrely Manchester United on loan as he became a bit of a journeyman towards the end of his career. He returned to Oldham briefly before finishing up at Queen of the South and Elgin. He went into coaching at mostly lower league clubs in Scotland.

Goram also had played cricket at a good standard and represented his country for two years as a bowler of some repute before Walter Smith asked him to focus on football. It seems incredible he was playing both sports at such a high level in both the winter and summer months – conjuring up thoughts of United’s own Ted Hemsley who did this and more famously, Ian Botham.

Goram was diagnosed with Cancer in May 2022 and died two months later at the age of 58. 

13. Jamal Blackman 

Total Appearances for United: 33 (2017-18) 

Clean sheets: 9 

Goals conceded: 36 

Goals conceded per game: 1.1 

An imposing keeper at 6’6’’, Blackman was signed when United struggled with an injury to Simon Moore. He was preferred to Jake Eastwood at the start of the season and did well on the opening day, making some outstanding saves against Brentford. He ended up as the number one and even when Moore returned to full fitness, he was preferred for much of the season, playing 33 times. Hh had a few dodgy moments, such as when he fell, dropped the ball and injured himself at QPR as they scored from the mistake. I also remember the incident at Brentford when he got sent off (see below)! However, he played in the 4-2 Bouncing Day Massacre at Hillsborough and some other notable wins as we started the season well before falling away. 

I have seen mixed opinions on him but I liked him. Some may feel I have placed him too high but we had a good season overall, we were near the top and around the playoffs and I can’t think of many glaring errors or horrific games. Even in the 4-5 with Fulham – was he at fault for many of the goals? He had impressive reactions and was much better than Moore with his feet, too.

I would not have been disappointed if we retained him or signed him permanently as he had the potential to be a top keeper – we then brought in Dean Henderson and he was soon forgotten.

He’s not gone on to have the career he would have hoped after the early promise at Chelsea and on loan but maybe he should have moved on sooner to get more game time. Sadly, if a big club is happy to keep you and put you out on loan, it is hard to take a wage cut in order to progress, but he might reflect on this as a mistake in terms of his playing development. 

United moment: He did well on his debut but the return against Brentford stands out for me. This was the game when, after they scored, Blackman became entangled with a much smaller man – Ryan Woods. A comedy scene ensued, as Blackman towered above Woods and then slapped him away like a fly!  

Career pre- and post-United: Blackman had been at Chelsea since he was 13 and spent 15 years at the club. He was continually retained despite numerous loan spells with eight different clubs including United. Aside from the Blades, he played the most games at Wycombe and Rotherham in his temporary spells with other clubs. He eventually left Chelsea in June 2021 having never played an actual competitive game for them. He ended up playing for Los Angeles FC but this was short lived – he returned to sign for Huddersfield, then Exeter, and finally got some regular football. He moved on to join Burton Albion but did not establish himself as first choice and left this summer, joining Shrewsbury Town.

12. Paul Gerrard 

Total Appearances for United: 19 (2003, 2006-08) 

Clean sheets: 5 

Goals conceded: 26 

Goals conceded per game: 1.4 

Gerrard had two spells with United, playing 16 times in 2003 before returning permanently in 2006 and playing twice in the Premier League. On both occasions he was signed as backup to Paddy Kenny. After Kenny got injured at Crystal Palace (with Jagielka replacing him during the game), we signed Gerrard on loan from Everton. He was impressive on debut and we went on a good run to the top of the league.

Gerrard won a number of man of the match awards in this spell: he was quick off his line, had good reactions and seemed a competent keeper, showing why he had moved for a lot of money earlier in his career and represented England U21s. Sadly he was recalled by Everton just before the infamous Baxter/Fettis game at Burnley. He was excellent in that spell and some wanted us to sign him permanently, preferring him to Kenny. 

He came back when Kenny and Ian Bennett were injured in the 06/07 Premier League season, but during his second spell he did not play as much and wasn’t as successful in his brief game time. He and Claude Davis combined to gift Portsmouth a late goal at the Lane in a draw and then he conceded three at Middlesbrough before Kenny was fit enough to regain his place. We released him but then re-signed him (although he didn’t play the following season) before leaving for good in the summer of 2008.  

United moment: His first game. He was excellent as we beat Coventry 2-1 thanks to a late Jack Lester goal, but Gerrard made several saves and was deservedly named man of the match. 

Career pre- and post-United: Starting out at Oldham under Joe Royle, Gerrard played at the top level before Oldham went down and Royle took him to his new club Everton for £1.5 million. He was not a regular as Neville Southall remained the number one, and while at Goodison Park for eight years he ended up going on loan to four clubs, including United. He eventually moved to Nottingham Forest in League One but returned to the Lane after his release. After a loan at Blackpool and spells with Stockport and Oldham again (he only played one more league game after leaving United), he moved into coaching and was at Oldham, Shrewsbury, Doncaster and Carlisle before taking on his current role at Huddersfield.

11. Keith Waugh 

Total Appearances for United: 121 (1981-85) 

Clean sheets: 40 

Goals conceded: 150 

Goals conceded per game: 1.2 

Waugh signed for the Blades for £100,000 in 1981, a sizeable fee for a goalkeeper back then, especially as we were starting the campaign right down in the Fourth Division for the first time in our history. Waugh went straight in as number one and played 45 out of 46 league games as United stormed to the title. He proved to be a good shot-stopper and someone who, despite having little to do, would make the important saves in games.

Waugh lost his place to Steve Conroy the following season but regained the spot in early December 1982 and was an ever-present after that. This continued into the next season but Paul Tomlinson was preferred from November as the Blades won promotion back to the second tier. Waugh was back in again to start the next season but John Burridge was signed, seeing Waugh move out on loan to Bristol City. 

Waugh played 121 games (99 in the league) for United over a four-season span. He clearly excelled in the early days, and even though other keepers were given spells, Ian Porterfield often went back to Waugh and he seemed a fairly safe pair of hands. He was a brave keeper who could make match-winning saves but did make mistakes and struggled with the high balls.

I always thought he was quite underrated. For my first period of watching United, he was the main goalkeeper, so maybe my sentimental views are somewhat skewed, but he was part of two promotions and enjoyed a successful time. 

United moment: During the title-winning season we did the double over his former side Peterborough, beating them 4-0 at the Lane.  

Career pre- and post-United: Born in Sunderland, he began his career with them but he never made it at Roker Park. He then spent five years at Peterborough and played nearly 200 games before United signed him. After he had loan spells away from the Lane in the mid 80s, he left for Bristol City and became a fan favourite down there. Waugh ended his career with brief spells at Coventry and Watford.  

Next time: part 3 – the final countdown