Leicester’s ultimate top ten players ever: Goalkeepers, No. 5-3

The Foxes have been blessed with some of the very best goalkeepers and we are really spoilt for choice in compiling a list of the top ten. We continue our count down today with numbers five to three.

5.  It is problematic to list City goalkeepers that few or any of those currently alive saw play. However, one such notable figure, George Hebden, comes in at number five on our list. He was first choice keeper between 1922 and 1925 playing 104 games for the Foxes conceding only 118 goals, an exceptional goals per game average of 1.135. Dave Smith and Paul Taylor’s majestic compendium of all things Leicester City – Of Fossils and Foxes - tells us that George was an effective keeper who was brave but sometimes reckless. For example, his clash with a Fulham striker Arthur Darvill in 1924 led to the latter’s death a few weeks later from undiagnosed internal injuries.

4.  Fourth on our list is Mark Wallington who played for the Foxes between 1972 and 1985. He replaced Peter Shilton as the first-choice keeper in 1974 and made a staggering 460 appearances for the club – the sixth highest number of any Leicester player - conceding only 607 goals. Mark was an unassuming figure but very reliable and underestimated. He holds the record of consecutive appearances for the club playing all 331 games between January 1975 and March 1982. This record was only broken when he was the victim of a studs-up challenge by Shrewsbury’s Chic Bates in the legendary sixth round FA Cup tie where, in the days when only one substitution was allowed, outfield players Alan Young and then Steve Lynex took turns between the sticks. Despite being behind 2-1 when Wallington limped off, the Foxes ran out 5-2 winners in a sensational game which has been documented in a book by journalist Mark Bishop.  

3.  It is a difficult decision to relegate Peter Shilton to third choice on our list. Many, no doubt, would have him at the top. The Leicester-born stopper was undoubtedly world class, winning a total of 125 full international caps, a record for an England keeper (the Italian Gianluigi Buffon is the most capped international goalkeeper with 176 appearances), and over 1,000 league games. Peter made his Foxes debut as a 16-year-old in May 1966 when Gordon Banks was unavailable. He made 339 appearances for the club, mostly in the top flight, only conceding an average of just over a goal a game (379), the best record of any Leicester keeper. Anyone who saw Shilton play recognised what a superb stopper he was. Athletic, a superb physique, dedicated and hugely talented are just some of the plaudits that can be attributed to him. However – and this really matters to football fans – Shilton did jump ship at a relatively early opportunity in November 1974 at the age of 24. He felt, accurately, that Leicester were not going to be competing for trophies any time soon. Only 20 of Peter’s 125 England caps were won when he played for Leicester and, to make matters worse, he also subsequently played for City’s deadliest rivals, Nottingham Forest and Derby. 

The top two will be revealed this Wednesday.