Nigel Spink
Encyclopedia
Nigel Philip Spink is a former football
goalkeeper who made his name at Aston Villa
and also made one appearance for England
at international level on the tour of Australia in 1983.
, but soon moved to Chelmsford City
and then, at the age of just 18, to Aston Villa
. It was almost five years before his big break in the first team came along, and it came on the biggest stage of all - the European Cup
Final. Ten minutes into the 1982 final
against Bayern Munich, Villa's first choice goalkeeper, Jimmy Rimmer
, was injured and substitute keeper Spink was called into action, having only made one previous appearance in the first team. Spink performed superbly, keeping a clean sheet, and Villa won the game 1-0.
He went on to make 460 appearances for Villa before moving to neighbouring club West Bromwich Albion
in 1996, almost two decades after first joining Villa. Spink became the oldest goalkeeper to appear for Albion when, at the age of 39 years and 19 days, he kept goal in a League Cup tie against Cambridge United on 27 August 1997. The record still stands as of 27 August 2007. In all he made 24 appearances for the Black Country club.
A £50,000 move in September 1997 took him down a division to Millwall
in Division Two, and he continued playing at The New Den for another three seasons until he finally retired in June 2000, just before his 42nd birthday.
After retiring as a player, Spink worked as a coach at West Bromwich Albion, and after a brief spell as manager of Forest Green Rovers
, has worked under Steve Bruce
at Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic as a goalkeeping coach. Nigel Spink followed Steve Bruce
to Sunderland A.F.C. as a goalkeeper coach on 3 June 2009.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper who made his name at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and also made one appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at international level on the tour of Australia in 1983.
Career
Spink began his career at Writtle Minors moving up to the Senior side Writtle Football Club before going as an apprentice to West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, but soon moved to Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
and then, at the age of just 18, to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. It was almost five years before his big break in the first team came along, and it came on the biggest stage of all - the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Final. Ten minutes into the 1982 final
1982 European Cup Final
The 1982 European Cup Final was played on 26 May 1982. English champions Aston Villa defeated West German league winners Bayern Munich 1–0 at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands to win the European Cup for the first time, and continue the streak of English teams winning the competition, being the...
against Bayern Munich, Villa's first choice goalkeeper, Jimmy Rimmer
Jimmy Rimmer
John James "Jimmy" Rimmer is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Manchester United, Swansea City, Arsenal and Aston Villa. He was capped once for England....
, was injured and substitute keeper Spink was called into action, having only made one previous appearance in the first team. Spink performed superbly, keeping a clean sheet, and Villa won the game 1-0.
He went on to make 460 appearances for Villa before moving to neighbouring club West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1996, almost two decades after first joining Villa. Spink became the oldest goalkeeper to appear for Albion when, at the age of 39 years and 19 days, he kept goal in a League Cup tie against Cambridge United on 27 August 1997. The record still stands as of 27 August 2007. In all he made 24 appearances for the Black Country club.
A £50,000 move in September 1997 took him down a division to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in Division Two, and he continued playing at The New Den for another three seasons until he finally retired in June 2000, just before his 42nd birthday.
After retiring as a player, Spink worked as a coach at West Bromwich Albion, and after a brief spell as manager of Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
, has worked under Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
at Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic as a goalkeeping coach. Nigel Spink followed Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
to Sunderland A.F.C. as a goalkeeper coach on 3 June 2009.
Honours
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1982 - European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
: 1983 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 1994