The greatest ever shot stopper for West Ham in recent years

In all the years I have been supporting the club, there have been many different goalkeepers practicing their trade between the sticks for West Ham. Some have arguably gone to become Hammers legends with long spells in the No.1 spot, and others making only brief – and sometimes even disastrous appearances – for West Ham. Anyone remember Sasha Ilic for example? Here are my top five West Ham keepers.

Ludek Miklosko.

The Czech international keeper joined West Ham in 1990, and remained as the first choice keeper for most of his spell at the club, which ended at the end of the 1997/1998 season. He went through a relegation at the club, then promotion in the 1992/1993 campaign. Then followed five successive seasons in the Premier League, often helping the club survive relegation battles.

The thing I remember most about Ludo was that he was capable of producing the sublime to the ridiculous, sometimes within the same game.

I was at Upton Park when West Ham surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Everton during a vital relegation clash, to draw the game 2-2 when Ludo made a crazy decision to dash from his line to try and cut out a cross in the dying moments which handed Everton their leveller.

I was also there when he produced an incredible save to deny Alan Shearer from scoring the winner for Newcastle United in the same season. This point guaranteed the clubs survival that year. And who can forget that remarkable match at the last game of the 1994/1995 season against Manchester United, in which Ludo’s save after save stopped the Champions regaining the title? Life was never dull with Miklosko in goal, and I remember him as an entertaining and very loyal servant for the club.

Shaka Hislop

Shaka Hislop served the Hammers in two different spells, and was the goalkeeper during some memorable times for the club. He was first signed by then manager Harry Redknapp at the start of the 1998/1999 season, before leaving at the end of the 2001/2002 campaign having lost his place in the side to David James that year. However he would later return to the club during the 2005/2006 season under Alan Pardew, although he only played 16 matches.

He was a steady keeper, solid if not particularly spectacular, and contributed towards some successful times for the club. In his first season, the Hammers finished an unprecedented 5th in the Premier League, which was an exceptional achievement for the club. It eventually led to European football in the form of the UEFA Cup (via the Intertoto Cup). He also played during the 2005/2006 season, where West Ham finished 9th, and reached the FA Cup final. Hislop actually played in that incredible game against Liverpool, where only Steven Gerrard’s brilliance denied the club a fourth FA Cup triumph.

My favourite memory of the former Trinidad and Tobago international was an FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford back in 2001. Everyone remembers that game for the famous Paolo Di Canio goal where Fabian Barthez stopped and appealed for offside instead of trying to save the shot! Hislop had an injury throughout that game, so much so that he couldn’t even take goal kicks, yet still produced save after save to deny the likes of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham to keep a vital clean sheet and send the Hammers on their way to a famous victory.

Jimmy Walker

Jimmy Walker was only at Upton Park for a short spell, during the successful promotion campaign of 2004/2005, but I remember him fondly from that time. He always seemed like a nice bloke and still has good things to say about West Ham on his Twitter feed.

When he pushed himself into a first team place that season, he really showed that he was a quality keeper, and his displays were an important factor in West Hams late Play-off push, and then subsequent promotion through the Play-offs. Indeed it would have been great to see him given a chance in the Premier League, but that unfortunate injury in the Play-off final against Preston North End prevented his career at the Hammers progressing any further.

I think the one moment that stands out in Jimmy Walker’s time at West Ham will be remembered for a long time to come. That was his performance in the League Cup match against Chelsea in 2004, which culminated him in saving Frank Lampard’s penalty. Plenty will regard him as a Hammers hero for that action alone!

Robert Green

I can’t leave out Robert Green from this list. Although many outside West Ham will only remember Green for his infamous mistake against USA in the World Cup of 2010, it cannot be denied that Green was a quality keeper for West Ham for five years, where he rarely missed a match.

He was part of the side who escaped relegation with an incredible end of season run, winning seven out of the last nine matches. Green’s performances had a lot to do with that and in particular put in a remarkable performance away at Arsenal, with the Gunners throwing everything at him, but finding everything repelled.

He also had a great penalty saving record at West Ham, saving three in a row during the 2007/2008 season, when he was also voted Hammer of the Year. Sadly the club were relegated at the end of the 2011/2012 campaign, but Green loyally stayed for the promotion effort in the following year, which was achieved after a nail biting Play-off final victory over Blackpool, in which Green’s saves arguably kept the Hammers in the game.

Adrian San Miguel

I know it’s only early days but I, and pretty much all West Ham supporters have already taken Adrian to their hearts. Since replacing Jussi Jaaskelainen in the side a few months ago the Spaniard has been inspired, his saves contributing heavily to the brilliant defensive record, which has seen the club concede only two goals in the last six matches. Adrian, and the defence have now become known as ‘Adrian’s wall’.

And it’s not just his performances that have been so inspired, it is also his attitude and enthusiasm that has proved so infectious. It is an example of the great team spirit Sam Allardyce’s side have shown lately. Adrian looks like he truly loves the club, celebrating like a supporter in the stands whenever West Ham score or claim three points.

After the games he always makes a point of going over to thank the supporters – even when they are over at the other side of the pitch in some away games. Indeed he was one of the very few to go over to the travelling support after the 6-0 mauling at Manchester City in January. At the last home match against Southampton, Adrian made a point of coming over to the stand where I was sitting, and giving his gloves to a disabled person at the front. This is exactly the sort of thing we supporters love to see from our players. I really hope Adrian continues in his current vein and has a long career at Upton Park.