Gordon West (24 April 1943 – 10 June 2012) was an English professional football goalkeeper. He won three international caps in a career that included a long stint at Everton.
Club career
Blackpool West played as a defender for Barnsley, Don and Dearne Boys, but when accompanying a friend to a trial with Blackpool decided to try out as a goalkeeper. The Lancashire club signed him, and West made his debut for Blackpool at the age of 17. After 33 League games for the Tangerines, he signed for Everton in March 1962 for £27,000, then a British record for a goalkeeper, replacing Albert Dunlop.
Everton In his first full season on Merseyside, West won the 1962–63 Football League First Division with Everton. He became the club's first-choice goalkeeper for more than ten years, forming a partnership with central defender and captain, Brian Labone. In that period he won the FA Cup in 1966 and was a runner-up in 1968. In 1969–70 Everton won the league again, with West keeping 21 clean sheets, still a club record. He made 399 appearances for the Toffees and retired in 1973.
Tranmere Rovers
West came out of retirement after three years to play briefly for cross-Mersey rivals Tranmere Rovers. He made seventeen League appearances for the Wirral club.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Sourced from Rothmans Football Yearbooks and Everton The Official Complete Record by Steve JohnsonClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeFA Charity ShieldTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBlackpool1960–61First Division180100000001901961–62First Division12020000000140Total30030000000330Everton1961–62First Division160100000001701962–63First Division380300020004301963–64First Division220300020102801964–65First Division200400020002601965–66First Division240800020003401966–67First Division360500040104601967–68First Division410602000004901968–69First Division420504000005101969–70First Division420104000004701970–71First Division120100010101501971–72First Division420401000004701972–73First Division400000000040Total3350400110130304020Tranmere Rovers1976-77Third Division110000000001101977–78Third Division1000000000101977–78Third Division500000000050Total17000000000170Career total3820430110130304520
International career
West won three caps for England. He turned down a place in the 1970 FIFA World Cup squad because he wanted to stay at home with his family.
Life after football
After giving up football, West worked in security at RAF Woodvale and became an after dinner speaker. Former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall campaigned for West to be rewarded with a testimonial game by Everton for his eleven years of service. West lived in Brighton-le-Sands, Merseyside. On 10 June 2012, West died of cancer in hospital.
His funeral was attended by Martin Buchan, Colin Harvey, Dave Hickson, John Hurst, Cliff Marshall, Peter Reid, George Telfer, Derek Temple, Tommy Wright and former player and manager Joe Royle, along with former chairman Sir Philip Carter, who paid tribute at the service.
Honours Everton Football League First Division: 1962–63, 1969–70 FA Cup: 1965–66; runner-up: 1967–68 FA Charity Shield: 1963, 1970
References
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