Remembering the Legend Ron Springett

[HarryJ]

My first Wednesday hero and one I tried unsuccessfully to emulate as a young lad. The photo that has been posted before of him mid-flight catching the ball is one I always remember and epitomizes this Wednesday great.

 

[fredmciverslovechild]

He was one of my early heroes as well and the first player I can ever remember getting a 10 rating for his performance in the Sunday papers. The 1-0 win at Leicester in January 1967 it was and I remember watching it on TV; he pulled off some fantastic saves that day.

 

Interesting to read the bit about Jimmy Greaves. They were apparently big mates and I can remember Greaves missing an absolute sitter at the Lepp and standing there in disbelief watching Ron laugh his head off. 

[Whatahoot]

Great read.

Top bloke and greatest person to pull on the keepers jersey for Wednesday right up to today, by far. Being a painter and decorator and a medic in the army is new stuff to me.

[Mountain Owl]

2 hours ago, joebo said:

Brilliant read. Ron was the first Wednesday 'keeper I saw and still the best.

And me. Agree about the best also.

[daveyboy66]

The problem with watching Springett as a youngster was that you expected all the keepers who followed him to be as good...it's not happened since

 

[wexowl]

Thanks Dunsby lovely post.As previous poster said I too only saw him live once. That was in an end of season friendly in Dublin 1967 where he did play centre forward  with brother Peter keeping goal ( for QPR).Actually managed to shake hands and have a quick word with him after the match.

[Weshallovercome]

Very much doubt we'll ever have a goalie as good as him, Davey.

 

You'll also never see another goalie catch the ball with both hands at full stretch from under the upright.......a sight to behold.

 

As others have said, Ron was my first Wednesday hero, it was pretty sad seeing him leave, possibly the worst swap deal in the history of football.

 

RIP Ron and Peter.

 

[Oliver Cromwell]

3 hours ago, Mickjj said:

Ron making a save in a 1-0 win at Highbury 

 

My all-time Wednesday favourite, with Peter Johnson guarding the post. One of the best right backs to play for us, yet never gets a mention on here

[Kefalonia]

After all this time watching Wednesday, the highlight for me was throwing the ball back to Ron for a goal kick.

[Rogerwyldesmullet]

Thanks for posting mate. 

 

Can you imagine an international goalie now looking forward to a future in painting and decorating?

[torryowl]

that match against Italy is on you tube ...well worth a watch for those that havnt seen it ..

[nevthelodgemoorowl]

I will say this... Ramsey got it totally wrong choosing Punchy Banks over Catchy Springett.

 

Two great keepers both better than Lev Yashin, but always favoured Ron for his catching and positional ability. A true gent !  

[torryowl]

9 minutes ago, nevthelodgemoorowl said:

I will say this... Ramsey got it totally wrong choosing Punchy Banks over Catchy Springett.

 

Two great keepers both better than Lev Yashin, but always favoured Ron for his catching and positional ability. A true gent !  

think youve got your blue tinted glasses on nev .......it's commonly excepted  that yashin & banks were 2 of the best theres ever been ......ron was a very good international keeper but a level below them 2 imo and most neutrals as well i'd think .

[Big Ron's Sovereign]

Is that Carlos?       

 

 

 

[Mickjj]

I'd like to put forward that a new History section should be created on Owlstalk for threads such as this. Some of the things that Dunsby and Kivo especially come up with are fantastic and it would be great to have easy access to them after they have dropped a couple of pages here. It would be great to read and learn the history of our great club.

[Dagmeister]

1 hour ago, torryowl said:

think youve got your blue tinted glasses on nev .......it's commonly excepted  that yashin & banks were 2 of the best theres ever been ......ron was a very good international keeper but a level below them 2 imo and most neutrals as well i'd think .

 

Agreed. Ron was a schoolboy hero of mine but Banks was better..... best I ever saw until some of the modern day greats.

[REDOWL]

When we were young we used to travel on the train from Retford to Sheffield for home games. On the return journey Ron was always on the same train as us and changed stations at Retford for his journey home to London. He was always besieged by us for autographs and a chat with our hero and never once did he turn any of us away. A true gentleman and rightly regarded as my first Wednesday hero.