Neville Southall changed my life in 90 minutes, without ever knowing it. As an aspiring 15 yr old goalkeeper, I sat in the stands at Varsity Stadium, Toronto in the summer of 1985 to watch Everton in their prime play a friendly against INXS Canada - a team hastily assembled as a short-term project to give quality match experience to the bulk of Canada's (largely amateur/semi-pro) National Team players ahead of our first and only World Cup Finals appearance at Mexico '86. I watched HIM for 90 minutes, regardless of where the ball was. Organizing and communicating with his back line, the decision-making with his distribution, at times 30 yards off his goal line - introducing me to the sweeper role a keeper can play. He filled the gaps for me. It may have been an $8 ticket, but it was a season's worth of coaching to a Canadian boy at that time. He was a great model to attempt to emulate - the world's best goalkeeper at that time, and in my opinion: the best goalkeeper of the modern era to never play in a World Cup, which he richly deserved. Big Nev = LEGEND.
My dad regularly took me to West Ham in the mid 80’s and once we watched when Everton came down. McAvennie put two past Nev that day but what a keeper he was!! He was so big and commanding. Mark Ward hit a screamer that Nev kept out - he was also very agile for a big man. I don’t watch much football nowadays but I miss Upton Park, the atmosphere was so good on the chicken run and it was always a delight when the toffees visited.
I saw Nev in a 5-a-side tournament probably about 10 or 15 yrs ago now. He was out of shape at the time and well into his retirement, but his reactions were still there, still like lightening.
Not only was Nev the best goalkeeper in the world but also what a true gentleman. When he was at his height he gave up his time at his own expense to come to Newtown Carnival in Powys so that the kids could try and score penalties against him.
He was the best keeper in the 80s even in to the 90 the euro ban never helped as late as 95 even in the 95 cup final he was showed what he was made off at 37 he pulled some world class save he showed Peter schmeichel what a real world class keeper is that day Peter schmeichel was world class but big nev was in world class league off his own
As a lfc fan....if their's one non-liverpool player that l would've loved to have had in the great 1980s liverpool team?...lts this guy...neville southall was without a doubt ...the best goalkeeper in the world in the 1980s....fantastic goalkeeper for his time
He's 60 years old but fat enough to block most of the goal he might have been worth a lot of money when he was younger tho that is the question u shud be asking
@@baronblade7163 What kind of a KAGS post is that? FYI, his back is shot to pieces after years of diving around and being clattered into, so he hasn't been able to keep himself fit and active. Satisfied? Besides, even in his current condition he would still be the best goalkeeper in the premier league. Now give your keyboard or "smart"phone back to your mummy and go watch Teletubbies.
@@mrlister2000 Oh chill, even his fans call him 'Big Nev' for that reason. And I love the bloke, but I make that joke too. It's not like the guy is dying or in a bad way either, it's common at his age. I'm no Adonis myself.
He signed Arnold, aged 31, for £200k straight after Kendall joined Everton. He was a very good goalkeeper in his own right. Nev speaks very highly of him, both as a keeper and also as a person.
