Season 2020-21 Opinion Talking Points
Ted Sagar
15 Comments I was interested in the appearance record for this late great goalkeeper and recall seeing him in his final days at Wolves. My father took me to Wolves to see my first ever game, and I’m pretty sure that it was a reserve team, Central League game as there was only a small crowd, around 1950 (?).
I was only about ten years old but I clearly remember being behind the goal net when the goalkeeper made a fantastic flying save to deny a Wolves goal. I said to my dad, “What a great save, dad! Who is that?”
I always remember him saying, “Best keeper you’ll ever see, that’s Ted Sagar, son.”
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Reader Comments (15)
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2 Posted 28/01/2021 at 13:35:07
"There are few players in the Everton back catalogue as legendary as goalkeeper Ted Sagar.
He was at Everton for 24 years and five weeks and made 497 appearances in all competitions - a figure surpassed by only Neville Southall, Brian Labone and Dave Watson. In the League only Southall has played more than Sagar's 463 matches. If it hadn't been for the interruption of the Second World War then who knows what total he may have clocked up.
Sagar was a brave 'keeper, famed for his headfirst dives at the feet of onrushing forwards and for his ability to come and claim crosses. To survive for so long in an era when it was legitimate for forwards to barge the goalkeeper around practically at will is a testament to how good Sagar was.
He won two League titles with Everton in 1931/32 and 1938/39, as well as the FA Cup in 1933 and the Second Division title in 1930/31. He also won four England caps, making his debut against Northern Ireland in Belfast in October 1935.
His last game for Everton before retirement came in November 1952 at Plymouth at the age of 42 years and 281 days - the oldest player ever to play for the club."
What in incredible career he had!
3 Posted 28/01/2021 at 18:44:46
I remember one of his games very late in his career at Goodison Park, when we played Tranmere Rovers in the final of the Liverpool Senior cup, we won 4-1, if I’m not mistaken and after the game Ted was presented with a cheque as a reward for long service.
4 Posted 28/01/2021 at 19:03:56
5 Posted 28/01/2021 at 19:07:05
Amongst the workforce in Standards were Jimmy Tansey and Ted Buckle. How times have changed! These days they'd have been millionaires.
6 Posted 28/01/2021 at 19:23:22
Bill(5),Jimmy Tansey, left back, I think he played in that never to be forgotten FA cup match at Goodison when Liverpool beat us 4-0 and they were in the second division, did I mention they were in that division for eight years!! Ted Buckle, part of our squad when we won promotion in 1954, he later went to Exeter City and I think his grandson later played for them.
7 Posted 29/01/2021 at 15:31:33
I would like you to be the first one to be notified of the fact that I have succumbed to the lure of [soulless, crowd less, televised] football.
I am prepared to be the target of ridicule from some quarters, but as they say "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" I was tempted by the Manchester United vs Liverpool FA Cup tie, and having watched that I felt that I had to watch the Everton vs Sheffield Wednesday game
8 Posted 29/01/2021 at 15:41:50
As for watching football on tv or not, it’s your decision and I think you’ve always been your own man, so do whatever pleases you and enjoy it, you won’t be hurting anyone.
9 Posted 29/01/2021 at 15:57:55
Two elder statesmen of TW.
A favour please gents.
Please continue the dialogue, ive got an hour to spare here.
Really enjoy you both reminiscing.
10 Posted 29/01/2021 at 20:42:03
I really sympathise with younger fans who have seen nothing resembling success, it's going to be twenty six years since we won the FA Cup and anyone under the age of thirty is unlikely to have a memory of that. Being a believer that anything can happen in a game of football, has carried me through the dark days, and I still cling on to the thought that this could be our year.
11 Posted 30/01/2021 at 05:18:12
I'm fortunate enough to still have been able to go to all games, home and away, so hadn't seen us on Tv for years.
However, I have to admit I've been watching all this lockdown season's games on TV via a link from a friend (don't ask). They often have a foreign commentary but I don't particularly listen to the British commentaries anyway!
I find being a teleclapper far more stressful than actually being there!
12 Posted 30/01/2021 at 10:36:17
13 Posted 30/01/2021 at 10:46:49
14 Posted 31/01/2021 at 00:12:34
Each time I pressed the mute button, our midfield froze and stood still, not sure if it was malfunctioning to pause instead, or that we were just shite and static.
15 Posted 31/01/2021 at 08:33:18
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1 Posted 26/01/2021 at 13:17:28
Another player whose career was spoiled by the 6 years wasted in the Second World War, no doubt his career record would have been much increased without that episode. I think he spent 23 years on Everton's books.
I remember him because of his agility and fearless nature guarding Everton's goal because he was only slight for a ‘keeper and they got knocked all over the place in those days, plus he had plenty to do in a very mediocre team and struggling club.