Nigel Spink
Nigel Philip Spink ( born August 8, 1958 in Chelmsford ) is an English former football goalkeeper. He stood from 1977 nearly two decades at Aston Villa under contract and came in 1983 to his only international match for the England national team. His sporting highlight he experienced in the final of the European national champion competition, when he came with the experience of only one professional use for the injured Jimmy Rimmer into the game and did not concede a 1-0 victory against FC Bayern Munich.
Sports career
Spink began his career as a student at West Ham United, before he moved in to his home club Chelmsford City - parallel to football, he completed an apprenticeship as a plasterer. Thanks to its consistently good performance he fell on the Talentesichtern Aston Villa and the local coach Ron Saunders was ready to pilot the just 18 years and five months old goalkeeper to Birmingham. That the way to the goalkeeper should be long, Saunders made his new goalkeeper from the outset clearly.
On Boxing Day of 1979 Spink made his debut for Aston Villa, as he the long-term English goalkeeper Peter Shilton faced in the 1-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest. The next competitive match followed until nearly 2 ½ years later and his second deployment within five years should be used precisely in the most important European club football game. After just ten minutes in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer felt a neck injury, which had already significantly impeded him during training. Spink represented Rimmer after its substitution error-free, made with parades - including several times against Karl -Heinz Rummenigge and Bernd Dürnberger - that Aston was Villa clean sheet and was for the only goal of the game from Peter Withe largely responsible for the victory of the "Villans ". He had not, however, automatically developed with this performance a regular place; Rimmer returned to the beginning of the 1982/83 season between the posts, but at the latest after his departure to Swansea City in the summer of 1983, Spink was often transported in the trunk formation. Mervyn Day but was a permanent competitor at this time and until his transfer to Leeds United in January 1985, the former young professional of the year 1975 instead of Spink on 30 missions in the two seasons 1983/84 and 1984 / 85th
In the rest of the 1980s Spink was the undisputed " number one " at Aston Villa, the decline during this time in the second division (1987 ), but then suddenly was able to regain the runner-up in the top division (1990). In the latter season Spink missed not a single game in the league. In the English national team, he was not more to the course and made his debut on 19 June 1983 against Australia (1-1) should Spinks remain single international match. The emerging competition in the person of Les Sealey Spink was at Aston Villa then still successfully fend off the start of the Premier League era, but as the emerging Mark Bosnich was then committed to the career of Mitt -thirties walked in Birmingham coming to an end. In the League Cup success in 1994 against Manchester United Spink just sat on the bench.
After more than 450 appearances for Aston Villa Spink returned the club back and joined the neighboring West Bromwich Albion on. He was still standing in 19 league games in goal and was on 27 August 1997, 39 years and 19 days, the oldest goalkeeper in the history of " WBA ". His career was then allowed to finish at FC Millwall, before he had his last active appearances at the age of 42 years with the Forest Green Rovers.
After his resignation as keeper Spink worked on the coaching staff of West Bromwich Albion and briefly oversaw the Forest Green Rovers as a head coach. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Wigan Athletic.
Achievements
- European Cup Winners ' Cup: 1982
- European Supercup winner: 1982
- English League Cup Winners: 1994