DUCKS AND SHILTS

June 4th 1988: England versus The Mighty Ducks may sound like a rubbish sequel to Emilio Estevez's finest hour. But this is what England had as the squad warmed up for the European Championships by taking on Aylesbury United, known as The Ducks (after the tastey meal?). We are not sure whose idea it was to play a friendly against the Beazer Homes League Premier Division Champions, led by the gloriously named striker, Cliff Hercules!

England did...imagine if Gareth had come up with that idea...imagine the press???!!! England used the practice match well and won 7-0, giving their joints, muscles and brains a warm up. Sadly the influence didn't last long as the England squad lost all three games in the tournament....a DUCK.

Twiddling his thumbs in the England goals that day was Peter Shilton, who weas able to "reflect" on his career and especially his debut anniversary, which took place with Leicester City against Everton. In his 31 year long career, Shilts notched up over 1,000 games (see below) and 125 England caps.

He had spells at 11 clubs and he has the unique distinction of playing over 1,000 English league games, including in excess of 100 for five different clubs. During his time at Nottingham Forest, Shilton won many honours, including two European Cups, a UEFASuper Cup, the First Division championship, and the Football League cup.

Shilton represented England at the FIFA World Cup in 1982, 1986 (where Maradona scored two famous goals against him) and 1990, and the UEFA European Championship in 1980 and 1988. Despite not making his World Cup finals debut until the age of 32, Shilton has played in 17 finals matches, and shares the record 10 clean sheets in World Cup Finals matches, with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

He holds the all time record for most appearances at the top, 1,390 and with 125 caps, Shilton is also the England's most-capped player. (Rooney 120, Beckham 115, Gerrard 114)

The IFFHS (in May 2024) ranked Shilton among the top twenty goalkeepers of the 20th century in 2000 (actually 20th). NAME FOUR OTHER BRIT GKs IN TOP TWENTY. With 996 Football League matches to his name, Shilton was anxious to reach 1,000 and he did when he joined Leyton Orient in November 1996, in an exchange deal for 39-year-old Les Sealey. His thousandth League game came on 22 December 1996, against Brighton and Hove Albion, which was screened live on Sky Sports and was preceded by the presentation from the Football League of a special edition of the Guiness Book of Records to Shilton. He played five more matches before retiring on 1,005 league games at the age of 47 at the end of the 1996–97 season. By the time of his retirement, he was the fifth oldest player ever to have played Football League or Premier League.