Grobbelaar spent the rest of the season as second choice to former Wolverhampton Wanderers keeper Phil Parkes. He is remembered for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence and … Conti sent his spot kick over the bar. In 1984–85, Grobbelaar brought down a spectator who had invaded the pitch during a game, allowing the police to handcuff the offending spectator.[6]. He was an ever-present in his first five league campaigns at Anfield, when Liverpool were champions four times and runners-up on the other occasion. Although James struggled to impress at first, Grobbelaar's insistence on playing for Zimbabwe gave James chances; Grobbelaar only played six times for Liverpool during 1992–93 and spent a short period on loan at Second Division side Stoke City where he made four appearances. It turned out to be his final appearance for the club. But he had in fact acted in a way in which no decent or honest footballer would act and in a way which could, if not exposed and stamped on, undermine the integrity of a game which earns the loyalty and support of millions."[18]. He played against Maltby Main on 14 April 2007, helping Glasshoughton to a 2–1 win. In 1984–85, Grobelaar famously brought down a spectator who had invaded the pitch during a game, allowing the police to handcuff the offending spectator.[3]. The New Year brought a new momentum as Bob Paisley began to get the best out of his players; they began the year in South Wales visiting the Vetch Field to play Swansea City in the FA Cup, Liverpool were in fine form and thumped their hosts 4–0. Grobbelaar was born in Durban, South Africa to ethnic Afrikaner parents. In his teenage years, Grobbelaar was a talented cricketer and was offered a baseball scholarship in the United States, but a career in football was his main ambition. When he was two months old he emigrated to Rhodesia with his mother and sister to join his father, who had got a job on the railways there. Nevertheless, in his next game, at home to Arsenal, he managed to keep a clean sheet despite the media frenzy that surrounded the game. [12][13], On 16 April 2009 episode of ITV's Hell's Kitchen Grobbelaar wore a black armband on his left arm in remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. The Lords slashed his award to £1, the lowest libel damages possible under English law, and ordered him to pay The Sun's legal costs, estimated at £500,000. His strengths were his gymnastic-like agility, and an unflappable confidence. Then they gonna have me to go through.”. Would you like Wikipedia to always look as professional and up-to-date? After two successive trials, in both of which the jury could not agree on a verdict, he and his co-defendants were cleared in November 1997. During the period 1981–1994, Grobbelaar played 627 first team games for Liverpool, becoming known for his eccentric and flamboyant style. He and Segers did not retire from playing until some time after being cleared of their involvement in the alleged match fixing. I would pick Salah out of the three of them.”, Grobbelaar combined Liverpool XI: Grobbelaar, Phil Neal, Alan Hansen, Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Ray Kennedy, Graeme Souness, Terry McDermott, Mo Salah, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush. Former Warriors goalkeeper, Bruce Grobbelaar claims to have lifted the curse on his former English Premiership side Liverpool, which will pave way for them to … Grobbelaar was born in South Africa, but raised in neighbouring Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe). Liverpool won the match 1–0. Speaking to On The Whistle podcast Grobbelaar said it would take a lot of guts for club owners to appoint him. He was an ever-present in his first five league campaigns at Anfield, when Liverpool were champions four times and runners-up on the other occasion. Born. On 22 April, he left the show citing a need to be reunited with his wife. [24] It was subsequently announced by head coach Justin Walley that he would start in goal against Chagos Islands on 7 June 2018. Bruce Grobbelaar has played and coached in South Africa in the past but doubts he will get another job there. He gained Liverpool's attention during a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra during the 1979–80 season, and signed for the Merseyside club in 1981. Making 628 appearances for Liverpool over the next 13 years, including 440 in the League, he won the League championship with the club six times, as well as three FA Cups, three League Cups and the 1983–84 European Cup. Recalling a … By good fortune, on the evening when he gave his greatest performance for Crewe, he was spotted by Liverpool's head scout Tom Saunders. © 2020 - Nehanda Radio. Grobbelaar spent the 1996–97 season with Plymouth, after which he spent short spells at Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic, Chesham United, Bury, Lincoln City and Northwich Victoria over the next 2 years before returning to his native country. In his teenage years, Grobbelaar was a talented cricketer and was offered a baseball scholarship in the United States, but a career in football was his main ambition. James's uncertainty allowed Grobbelaar to regain his place in the first team at the start of the 1993–94 season, in which his performance, like the team's, started well but fell away badly. During the period 1981–1994, Grobbelaar played 627 first team games for Liverpool, becoming known for his eccentric and flamboyant style. [11] The Southern Daily Echo reported that Grobbelaar was "swept along on a tidal wave of emotion, to emerge triumphant from the toughest match of his life". [21], He was persuaded to play for Winterbourne United in their Gloucestershire FA Trophy game against Patchway Town on 5 December 2009 but in the end did not make an appearance. During his time at Crewe, Grobbelaar played 24 League games and scored his only professional goal, a penalty, in his last game. “I would say maybe Craig Johnson comes out, Rush and Dalglish with one of the others. It turned out to be his final appearance for the club. Grobelaar admits there are further distressing images 'burnt into his memory' from his time with the army. Bruce Grobbelaar. [15] Grobbelaar earned 32 caps for Zimbabwe between 1980 and 1998. Nevertheless, in his next game, at home to Arsenal, he managed to keep a clean sheet despite the media frenzy that surrounded the game. Grobbelaar left Liverpool for Southampton in 1994, transferred to Plymouth Argyle two years later, and thereafter played for an assortment of English lower-league teams, never for more than a few games. From July 2014 to January 2018, he was the goalkeeping coach for Ottawa Fury FC of the North American Soccer League and subsequently the United Soccer League. [25] He later became the goalkeeping coach with Norwegian club Øygarden FK. He has been the goalkeeper coach for Ottawa Fury FC of the North American Soccer League since 2014. “South Africa, I’d love to come back there, but it depends if these owners have got balls to get Bruce Grobbelaar back for their team,” he said. #NehandaEyes: Tell us what is happening in your area. I have lifted Liverpool curse…. In 2001, he took over struggling Hellenic.