08 Jan 2020 11:25:13
Hi ED001,
I was curious to have your views on Bruce Grobbelaar both as a player and person. The memories that stand out for me is him playing in the excellent team of the 90's where he had a decent defence in front of him. He was a big personality, but in terms of goal keeping he was prone to an error or two. I recall he had sone on field spats with Mcmanaman and Beglin. Of course there were the match fixing allegations where he was proved not guilty. Those are the standout memories for me, but keen to get your thoughts too when you have a chance. Ps if you could please delete my draft post on the same subject. I accidentally clicked the send button. Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - I loved Brucie. As a player he gave me a few heart attacks like, but he was pure entertainment with his handstands and dribbling past attackers. I only really met him once properly but he was sound then, I was just a kid pestering him but he was really nice and put up with a lot.}


1.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 19:07:33
Did anyone see the thing about the witch doctor and pi####ng on the posts at anfield? Seems an odd fella to say the least. Earliest keeper I remember was dudek unfortunately.


2.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 21:59:29
I have tried to send in the link. Its brilliant.


3.) 09 Jan 2020
09 Jan 2020 08:25:20
As a kid I used to wait outside Anfield to get autographs from the players and there was one particular time when the usual crowd had gathered as Brucie came out. There was some pushing and shoving and Brucie absolutely flipped and started shouting at all the kids.
Usually he was fine and pleasant without being overly nice but that time he was tetchy to say the least but that’s now my overriding memory of Brucie.
Shame really.


4.) 09 Jan 2020
09 Jan 2020 10:05:32
Brucie was genius between the sticks, back in the day it wasnt normal to come rushing out like a sweeper but he was always at it, he got stick when it went wrong but people like Bob Wilson and a lot of other goalkeeping experts had him down as one of the best ever, his shot stopping was second to none and his reactions were unreal,
You didn't play in that side unless you were top drawer.
The only one anything like his class back then for me was up the road at the blues, Big Neville Southall, another of the best i've ever seen by a long long way, im not sure what any of them would have thought of how light the ball is now lol! I remember trialing at Maidstone utd at 16 and coming out 50/ 50 in short shorts and getting a mitre tattoo on the inside of my leg for a week haha!
I feel old now at 46! Them were the days lol!


5.) 09 Jan 2020
09 Jan 2020 17:36:39
He lives in a small community in Newfoundland (eastern Canada) now, and does a fair bit of volunteer coaching with the soccer association in the area. I've taken a travelling team out to that city a few times and gone to watch while he was running sessions with his teams, but never wanted to intrude or said more than a passing hello to him.

For what it's worth, just sitting in the stands listening to him train/ instruct/ coach, he's a pretty sharp communicator and respectful to those players. Obviously has a bit of a checkered past, but seems to live a pretty quiet, sensible life at this point.


6.) 10 Jan 2020
09 Jan 2020 20:51:28
I bumped into him once at a bar and spent half an hour or so talking to him, he was a real gent about being approached and shared a couple of beers - awesome guy.