Ron Springett
former England goalkeeper
Born: 22 July, 1935
Died: 12 September, 2015,
Ronald Derrick 'Ron' Springett, who has died some weeks after his 80th birthday, was England's most-capped goalkeeper, before losing that honour to his replacement as his country's first-choice number one, the great Gordon Banks.
At a shade under five feet ten inches, he was small for a 'keeper, but he compensated for his lack of height with terrific agility, great game reading and his undoubted courage – he was particularly good in one-on-one challenges, swooping to nick the ball off forwards' toes.
His father Percy was a goalkeeper at Queen's Park Rangers – although he never made the first-team – and it was to that club that young Ron went, after his local side, Fulham, turned him down following a trial.
He was then an apprentice fitter, but, just after his 20th birthday, he made his QPR debut against Norwich City and he was soon first-choice. He was selected for the Third Division South representative side, but,it was a transfer to Sheffield Wednesday, in March 1959 which kicked-off his representative career.
Springett was chosen for the Football League XI, he played nine games for this side – matches were the equivalent of today's friendly internationals – before making his full England debut, against Northern Ireland in November, 1959, saving a Jimmy McIllroy penalty that night. Meticulous in his preparations, he kept a dossier on possible penalty-takers he would face.
He would go on to make 29 appearances in the next 30 England games, including facing Scotland in three straight games: a 1-1 draw at Hampden in 1960, the 9-3 game at Wembley in 1961 and Scotland's 2-0 Hampden win in 162.
He was England's goalkeeper throughout the 1962 World Cup Finals in Chile, making some terrific saves, but, being criticised, albeit unfairly, after he was beaten by two bending Garrincha specials in England's 3-1 quarter-final exit at the hands of Brazil. In this game, his 25th cap, he had displaced the great Bert Williams of Wolves as England's most-capped goalkeeper.
The wonderful Banks replaced him in the England team the following season, but Springett continued to be his understudy, taking his caps total to 33. His final cap came in a 6-1 win over Norway in the run-up to the 1966 World Cup.
He was an unused reserve in the 1966 World Cup winning squad,. Only the 11 who played in that iconic final received medals, although Springett and his fellow reserve finally received winner's medals in 2009. In that 1965-66 season, he also won an FA Cup runners-up medal, when Wednesday lost to Everton.
Throughout his career in Sheffield, he had continued to live and train in London, only seeing his club-mates on match days. In May 1967, he was involved in a strange transfer, when he rejoined QPR, with his young brother Peter, who had been the QPR goalkeeper, going in the opposite direction in a move with a total value of £50,000.
He played out his career with the London club, where he had continued to train during his Sheffield sojourn, finally retiring in 1969 after over 500 games, (350 for Wenesday, 150 for QPR). He then had a short spell running a sports shop in West London, before starting a painting, decorating and gardening business. In retirement from senior football, he continued to play for some time in a local Sunday League, as a centre forward.
In 1958 he had married Barbara, who survives him with daughters Robyn and Terri, herself an England Women's cap, who is the QPR secretary.
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