Peter Shilton only missed one game in 1983/84, Mark Wright for one wished he hadnt.

Alistair Sperring was a genuine one hit wonder in his one appearance for Saints, unfortunately his one hit landed on the nose of Mark Wright causing the central defender to be carried off concussed with a broken nose when the 20 year old keeper missed the ball with his punch.

Peter Shilton didnt miss many games in his career for Saints and in of the 51 that Saints played in 1983/84 he was absent only for the League Cup tie away to Rotherham on 8th November 1983.

With Peter Wells having departed in the summer as well as Ivan Katalinic, Lawrie McMenemy had left himself thin in the goalkeeping department, presuambly thinking that he could get one in on loan in an emergency, he had only the untried Alistair Sperring to back up Shilton.

Sperring who had been a regular in the reserve side for a couple of seasons had only turned 20 a couple of weeks earlier but with Saints in fine form perhaps the manager felt that a game in the league cup in place of the injured Shilton wouldnt be too difficult against lower league Rotherham, however in only the 6th minute it all went wrong coming for a cross Sperring wnt to punch but only connected with the nose of Mark Wright who was knocked out cold as well as suffering a broken nose.

It got worse though Saints had an attacker on the bench in the person of Martin Foyle and back then you could only name one sub, so it was big changes for Saints in formation, before they could get organised the home side sent most of the 8,821 packed into Millmoor wild, on 24 mins Dave Armstrong equalised but the Millers won it with a 36th minute goal,, Saints dominated the game but couldnt ccreate many chances against a determined Rotherham side and Saints Milk Cup hopes were over and so was Sperrings Saints career.

Luckily for Saints Shilton would not miss another game as in a season where they finished 2nd and reached the semi's of the FA Cup Sperring was the only back up they had

In the summer of 1984 McMenemy signed Phil Kite from Bristol Rovers, at that time highly rated and Sperring was allowed fist to go on loan at Swindon and then on trial at Reading he failed to impress at either Club and was allowed to go on a free transfer dropping out and returning to his home of Hayling Island playing fisrt for Bognor and then Hayling Island FC itself.

There were only a few hundred Saints fans up at Millmoor that cold night and Im sure most of them wont have a clear recollection of Sperring that night, nor will Mark Wright for that matter who probably cant remember anything at all apart from being knocked senseless, for Goalkeepers its all about timing on crosses, Sperring certainly mistimed his that night by around four years, if he had connected with Wright in the summer of 1987 he would have been a hero to Saints supporters.   

Photo: Action Images

zonehead added 18:19 - Jul 12 Very much enjoying your series, how about a series about the great left backs we have had over the years, we seem to have had a number of characters filling this position. Keep up the good work
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SaintNick added 14:51 - Jul 13 Thanks ill try and do a few starting tomorrow perhaps chronological order
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