Andy Goram was Scotland’s only WORLD CLASS goalkeeper says England legend Peter Shilton
PETER SHILTON paid Andy Goram the ultimate tribute — hailing him as Scotland’s only world-class goalkeeper.
England legend Shilts feels football has lost one of the greats following the passing of the Rangers icon.
Goram lost his battle with oesophageal cancer at the weekend, aged just 58.
But Shilton is convinced The Goalie’s exploits for club and country will endure.
And the 72-year-old even reckons Goram was on a par with any British keeper of the past half a century.
Shilts said: “I think Jim Leighton and Andy Goram both changed the perception of Scottish goalies.
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“Leighton had a much longer career internationally and won a lot more caps than Goram.
“But there’s no doubt in my book that Andy was a superior keeper when he was at his peak. For three or four years, when he was in his pomp, he was world class.
“In my opinion, he’s the only keeper from Scotland you could say that about.
“Everything about his game was of the highest standard — and he did it at the top level.
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“The only thing he lacked was that longevity you associated with the real top keepers like Gianluigi Buffon.
“Goram was certainly one of the best in the world when he played with Scotland at Euro 96. But, for different reasons, it never lasted long enough, which was a shame because I loved watching him.
“Andy was a proper talent. You could compare him with any of the great British goalkeepers of the past 50 years and he is as good as any of them. He is most certainly up there among the top ones during that period when he was at his peak. There’s no doubt about that.”
As England’s record appearance holder, with 125 caps amassed over a 20-year period, Shilton has seen it all.
The icon won two European Cups with Nottingham Forest, and represented his country at six major finals.
He is a firm believer the foundations of every successful team are built on a great keeper.
And during Rangers’ nine-in-a-row years, few would disagree that Goram was the bedrock of Walter Smith’s side.
Shilton added: “You don’t have a great team without a great goalie, it’s as simple as that.
“It is such a vital position and it sets the tone for the rest of the side.
“That certainly rang true with Goram at Rangers when you look at all the trophies they won.
“He was also part of a Scotland squad that regularly qualified for major finals.
“There are no teams who have a prolonged period of success without a brilliant keeper.
You see all the tributes that have been paid to Andy, and it is no coincidence that all these guys who played with him at club and international level say the same thing.
“To a man they insist he was the best they ever played with. I see where they are all coming from.”
Goram wasn’t your typical build for a keeper, short at 5ft 11in and squat, but he was a natural between the sticks.
In many ways, he reminded Shilton of himself. He said: “Andy had a solid technique and a terrific temperament. He was unflappable and you can hardly ever recall him making a mistake.
“I wasn’t particularly big for a keeper at 6ft and there were a lot in that era who weren’t massive.
“He reminded me of guys like Gordon Banks and Peter Bonetti. And I can also understand the comparison with myself.
“We were all capable of pulling off stunning saves when it mattered most, which is what goalkeeping is all about.
“It has changed days now with most of the top keepers well in excess of 6ft.
“While Goram was relatively small, he more than made up for that with his incredible reflexes and unbelievable positioning.”
Shilton held the record for the most international appearances by a British player until last year, when his tally of 125 was surpassed by Steven Davis.
The veteran Rangers midfielder has now reached 134 caps for Northern Ireland — and the man whose feat he surpassed insists Davis’ achievement far outweighs his own.
Shilton added: “I’m still very proud to be the most-capped English player. One thing you need to have is dedication, plus talent and luck with injuries.
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