With Thorsten Stuckmann having made his first team debut, the number of goalkeepers who have made 'first team' debuts for Preston North End, now totals 100.
Competitions counted include League, FA cup, League Cup, Associate Members Cup (under various names) and Play-off games. Friendlies, Testimonials, Lancashire Cup, Palatine League and the Rawcliffe Charity Cup (both 1890's competitions) have not been included.
Stuckmann is the second goalkeeper to play for Preston, having been born in Germany. Roy Tunks, although English, was also born in Germany!
Fourteen of those 100 goalies only made the one single appearance, whereas Alan Kelly Senior tops the list with 512. The previous best had been Peter McBride who amassed 474 appearances.
Preston North End have had goalkeepers capped at full international level with five different countries. Harry Holdcroft represented England, Alan Kelly (Eire), Peter McBride (Scotland), Dr.Mills-Roberts & James Trainer (Wales) and Tepi Moilanen (Finland). In the 1880's Preston's goalie, William Crispin Rose, played for England too, but that was in our pre-league days. In the mid-1930s, Preston's reserve goalkeeper, Roy John, was capped for Wales but he never made a first team debut for Preston due to Holdcroft's consistency. Both George Thompson and Fred Else gained England 'B' honours whilst at Deepdale
Some other Preston North End goalkeepers played at international level, either previously or latterly in their career. They include James Mitchell, Fred Fox and Frank Moss (all England). Alan Kelly Jnr, Wayne Henderson and Kelham O'Hanlon (all Eire), and Jim Blyth, Jock Ewart (Scotland).
Lee Bamber and Chris Neal have both only made the one single substitute appearance for the Club.
Meanwhile, Andy Lonergan and Iain Turner are the only goalkeepers to have scored for Preston North End.
TOP TEN APPEARANCE LIST
1. Alan Kelly Senior 512
2. Peter McBride 474
3. Roy Tunks 354+1 as sub.
4. Harry Holdcroft 289
5. James Trainer 275
6. Fred Else 238
7. Andy Lonergan 231
8. 'Tepi' Moilanen 180+4 as sub.
9. Alan Kelly Junior 164
10. George Thompson 155
All the best for Christmas and New Year - Ian Rigby (official Club historian).
