A to Z: How good was Clemence?

The third episode of BBC Radio Merseyside's A to Z of Liverpool focuses on the letter C, specifically legendary goalkeeper Ray Clemence, the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final and Ian Callaghan. Clemence was one of the greatest goalkeepers of the post-war generation, with a glittering record of success at Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur that stands as a monument to his talent. The England goalkeeper was a key component of great Liverpool sides under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley in the 1970s and early '80s that picked up an immense amount of silverware at home and abroad, before he left Anfield to enjoy more success at White Hart Lane. On Clemence's time at Anfield, BBC Radio Merseyside's Ian Kennedy said: "I think like a lot of these things when people say who's the best goalkeeper ever for your team, if it's Liverpool, it depends on how old you are and who you've seen. If you're too young to see Ray Clemence, then you'll probably say Alisson. Bruce Grobbelaar was a good goalkeeper and won just about everything with Liverpool, but if you, like me, saw Ray Clemence, I saw the back end of his career at Anfield and he was an outstanding goalkeeper. "Three European Cups, five league titles, two Uefa Cups, the FA Cup, League Cup, European Super Cup, that is incredible, and he was Liverpool's goalkeeper throughout the 70s, when they dominated football largely in the 80s as well, but certainly in the mid 70s onwards Liverpool were the team. "He commanded his goalmouth like no one I've ever seen. He was an extension to the old Tommy Lawrence sweeper-keeper idea. But he was a great shot-stopper, made some fantastic saves, made very few mistakes. "I think the worst mistake he ever made was for England against Scotland at Hampden Park when it just went through his legs. Other than that, you struggle to think of a mistake he made. "He had such a long career at Liverpool, you think he's left Liverpool, and that's the end of him, but he goes to Tottenham, and he played for years at Tottenham. And he won the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1982. It just shows he had a second career with Tottenham and with England; if it hadn't been for Peter Shilton, he probably would've won 200 caps." Listen to the full conversation above or on BBC Sounds Find more Liverpool content here