BRUCE GROBBELAAR

Full Name: Bruce David Grobbelaar

Born: 06 October 1957

Came from: Southampton   Went to: Oxford United

First game: 17 August 1996   Last game: 19 April 1997

Appearances: 41 (41/0)   Goals: 0

Bruce Grobbelaar was in the twilight of his illustrious career when he arrived at Home Park in 1996 as a headline-making signing by Neil Warnock.

Born in South Africa, he grew up in neighbouring Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and served in the Rhodesian Army. His football career began with Bulawayo-based Highlanders, followed by Harare club Chibuku Shumba, later known as Black Aces. He then had a brief spell with Johannesberg-based side Highlands Park, in South Africa and in his late teens, he joined Durban City but left, claiming he had been side-lined because of his colour in a predominantly black team; the club had played in an all-white league until the previous year. In 1978, he was then conscripted into National Service and spent eleven months on active service with the Rhodesia Regiment during the Rhodesian Bush War.

In 1979, Grobbelaar joined Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League (NASL) after attending their scouting camp in South Africa. He played under former England and Blackpool goalkeeper Tony Waiters, who had also managed Argyle. Grobbelaar made one appearance during the 1979 season, in a 2-0 away defeat to LA Aztecs.

Later that year, a chance phone call from Ron Atkinson, while Grobbelaar was visiting family friends in England, led to an impromptu trial with West Bromwich Albion. Work permit difficulties scuppered the move, but Crewe Alexandra signed him on loan in December 1979. In an early Football League appearance for the Fourth Division side, the unknown goalkeeper was listed in York City's matchday programme as ‘Bill Grobbelaar’. He made 24 appearances for Crewe, scoring his only professional goal, a penalty, in his final game. Liverpool's scout had, however, spotted him, but Grobbelaar returned to Vancouver for the 1980 NASL season, making a further 23 appearances.

Liverpool duly signed Grobbelaar for £250,000 in March 1981 as their reserve goalkeeper. Ray Clemence’s departure for Tottenham Hotspur later that year opened the door to the first team, and Grobbelaar seized his opportunity. Over 14 seasons at Anfield, he was an ever-present for his first five and won six top-flight titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups, five Charity Shields and the European Cup. He is particularly remembered for his famous ‘wobbly legs’ routine during the penalty shoot-out against AS Roma in the 1984 European Cup Final. In total he had made an incredible 628 appearances which included a remarkable, 267 clean sheets.

After a four-game loan spell with Stoke City in 1992-93, his final season at Anfield came the following year, before he moved to Southampton. His reputation was subsequently tarnished by match-fixing allegations, though he was later to be found not guilty.

Despite being 39 when he joined Argyle, Grobbelaar retained the agility and confidence of a top-class goalkeeper. He continued to attract headlines, both through on-going court appearances relating to the match-fixing allegations, whilst at the club, and as the player felled in the incident that sparked the infamous ‘Battle of Saltergate’. Argyle won 2-1 away at Chesterfield in the first Football League match to see five red cards issued.

After one eventful season at Home Park, Grobbelaar signed for Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday without making an appearance for either. He then played four times for Oldham Athletic before spells with Chesham United, Bury (one appearance), Lincoln City (two appearances), Northwich Victoria, Hellenic in Cape Town, South Africa, and then a last cameo, for Glasshoughton Welfare.

During his playing career, at international level, he won 33 caps: one for Rhodesia in 1977 and 32 for Zimbabwe between 1980 and 1998.

After his playing career, he returned to South Africa, coaching Seven Stars in 1999 and Hellenic in 2001, among other clubs. He also continued playing, becoming the oldest player to appear in the South African league at 44, a record since surpassed. In the early 2000s, he coached Supersport United, Manning Rangers and Umtata Bush Bucks, as well as working in Zimbabwe, where he was briefly player-manager of the national team on two occasions, in 1997 and 1998.

By 2012, Grobbelaar was living in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, where he played in the local men’s league for West Side Monarchs and occasionally coached with the Corner Brook Minor Soccer Association. He later became goalkeeping coach at Ottawa Fury FC, first in the NASL and subsequently in the United Soccer League (USL).

In May 2018, he became goalkeeping coach for Matabeleland, representing western Zimbabwe and affiliated to the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA). The following month, he was added to the playing roster for the team’s remaining group games and won a cap, starting in goal against the Chagos Islands at the age of 60. He later coached Norwegian club Øygarden FK and continues to work with Liverpool in an ambassadorial capacity.