Great saves of the 80s: 1986 Bruce Grobbelaar

“Hero or villain? Genius or clown? Will the real Bruce Grobbelaar please stand up?” Ken Rogers, writing in the Liverpool Echo, was not alone in focussing his attention squarely on Liverpool’s keeper after a Division One match on February 22, 1986 that appeared to have killed off any hopes of the title returning to Anfield.

“For 73 minutes the controversial keeper was in line for Liverpool's man-of-the-match award as the 134th Merseyside derby unfolded in dramatic fashion at Anfield. Then the Jekyll and Hyde streak that haunts him mercilessly, more often than not in front of a television audience of millions, reared its head once again to leave the red army stunned.”

Allowing a long-range Kevin Ratcliffe effort to squirm through his body, Grobbelaar’s blooper laid the foundation for an Everton win that left the visitors eight points clear of their city rivals with 12 league matches remaining. The knives were out for Liverpool’s number one.

Labelling him “Grobbelaar the wobbler”, the Mirror’s Nigel Clarke was particularly critical. “It is all very well walking on his hands and performing other circus antics, but Grobbelaar is forgetting the very basics of his trade…safe-keeping and catching. The fact is, when he’s at his best, he’s unbeatable. But too often these days his concentration cracks and errors stud his game.”

The last thing Grobbelaar needed was another high-profile error. But just eight days later, and in front of millions of BBC viewers, his blunder gifted Tottenham the lead at White Hart Lane. Liverpool’s first season under new player-manager Kenny Dalglish was in danger of imploding.

However, a 10-minute session with the hair-dryer seemed to do the trick, as a revitalised Liverpool turned the match and the season on its head. The late 2-1 win spared Grobbelaar’s blushes. “I have had a week of publicity and to start the game like I did today was a poor show. Fortunately the lads were able to pull it out for me.”

Taking 34 points from a possible 36 after the Everton defeat, Liverpool pipped their rivals to the title, Grobbelaar claiming eight clean sheets along the way, as his fortunes, like those of the team, started to turn. From nowhere, Liverpool now had the opportunity to claim the double in the first Merseyside FA Cup final.

The eccentricity of Grobbelaar was clear for all to see at Wembley on May 10. Shortly before Gary Lineker gave Everton the lead, Grobbelaar had flapped at a long throw, prompting a chuckling Jimmy Hill to comment: “You never know with Bruce.” A few minutes later, the same man felt Liverpool’s keeper would have been disappointed not to have held on to Lineker’s initial effort, as Everton went ahead.

If some were questioning Grobbelaar for the goal, then he would definitely make up for it as an incident packed second half progressed. In fact, the two major moments involving Liverpool’s keeper would have a big impact on the outcome of the match, as Ratcliffe explained 23 years later on the BBC website.

“The big turning point in the match was a second-half incident between Bruce and Jim Beglin. They had a bit of a to do over a defensive mix-up and that seemed to make a massive change to the game. That and Bruce's save from Graeme Sharp were the turning points. Liverpool seemed to raise their game, and surpass us and our chance had gone.”

Grobbelaar’s row with Beglin obviously got his juices flowing, and after Ian Rush had levelled matters in the 56th minute, Grobbelaar would again take centre stage. But this time, his actions in goal would bring praise, rather than derision.

Quite what Alan Hansen was doing when he tried to clear lines is surely one for an experienced football pundit to analyse. Yet his woeful hack across the face of his own goal fell invitingly on to the head of Graeme Sharp, and with Grobbelaar out of position, Everton’s striker looped his header towards the target.

Sharp’s header may not have been the most powerful, yet it looked destined to put Everton back in front. But from nowhere, Grobbelaar appeared, his athleticism and agility winning the day, as he leapt towards the crossbar to tip Sharp’s goal bound effort over the bar.

John Motson commented that it was a “fine save”, Brian Moore upped it to “great”, the Liverpool Echo calling it “one of the finest saves of his career.” Whatever adjective used to describe Grobbelaar’s intervention, there could be no disputing that the save would prove a pivotal moment in the 1986 FA Cup final.

Just over a minute later, Craig Johnston put Liverpool ahead, and when Rush netted his second with seven minutes remaining, Liverpool’s double was now a reality. Amongst all the celebrations, many appreciated that Grobbelaar’s stunning save was a match winner.

“Perhaps this will convince people what a great goalkeeper Bruce really is and stop them getting on his back so much,” Johnston said. “He’s a great goalkeeper and that save was out of this world.”

Ian Hargraves added his thoughts: “Only Grobbelaar knows how he reached the ball. I can think of no other goalkeeper who could have done so and as a piece of acrobatic goalkeeping it ranked with Gordon Banks’ famous save from Pele.”

In the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s joy, Grobbelaar was asked about the save. “I had come way out of goal to collect the back pass but Alan [Hansen] mishit it and I was stranded, hopelessly out of position. I got back as quick as I could and made a real kangaroo leap to reach the ball. It’s something Craig [Johnston] taught me. If I’d tried to catch the ball I would have gone into the net with it.”

Some may debate whether Grobbelaar’s save was truly great. But in sport, context is everything. Not only did Grobbelaar demonstrate his natural ability in denying Sharp, he also swung the match in favour of his team. Just over sixty seconds later, the double was a step closer for Liverpool; in that moment, Grobbelaar shaped history.

Barcelona manager Terry Venables summed it up very well in the Sunday Mirror. The 1986 FA Cup final was a microcosm of Bruce Grobbelaar, and his eventful 1986.

“The story of Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar’s zany season was told in 90 dramatic minutes at Wembley. He had the shakes then the jitters. He looked a bundle of nerves and his handling was clumsy. But the turning point came when he chased back to make that superb save from Graeme Sharp after the Alan Hansen blunder.”

That was just how it was with Liverpool’s keeper back in the 80s; you never really knew with Bruce.