Jimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery BEM (born 9 October 1943) is an English retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made a record 627 appearances for his hometown club Sunderland with 537 of these appearances being in the league, after joining the club as a youngster in 1960.[2]
![]() Montgomery at the Stadium of Light, 2016 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 October 1943 | ||
Place of birth | Hendon, Sunderland,[1] England | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
Sunderland | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1960–1977 | Sunderland | 537 | (0) |
1967 | Vancouver Royals | 6 | (0) |
1976 | → Southampton (loan) | 5 | (0) |
1977–1979 | Birmingham City | 66 | (0) |
1979–1980 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | (0) |
Total | 614 | (0) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
In June 2015, Montgomery was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to football in the Queen's birthday honours list.[3]
Football career
He made his debut aged only 18 against Walsall, going on to serve 17 years at the club.[4]
Montgomery featured for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup Final, where they beat Leeds United 1–0 to win the FA Cup for only the second time in their history. His most memorable contribution in that match was a double save from Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer which prevented Leeds from equalising.[5] This was described in an internet article in 2012 as the greatest double save ever.[6]
Montgomery also played for Southampton, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest.[7] After he retired as a player Montgomery returned to Birmingham City and Sunderland as a goalkeeping coach.[8]
Personal life
He is related to James Montgomery, also a footballer.[9]
In October 2020, a mural of Montgomery celebrating the 1973 Sunderland FA Cup win was unveiled on The Times Inn public house overlooking the River Wear at Wear Street, Sunderland.[10]
Honours
Club
Sunderland
Nottingham Forest
Individual
References
- Southern, Keiran (16 March 2016). "Sunderland FA Cup hero Jimmy Montgomery could be handed the Freedom of the City". The Chronicle. Newcastle. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- "Soccerbase.com, Jimmy Montgomery career stats". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- "Legendary Sunderland keeper Jimmy Montgomery 'delighted' with Queen's honour". www.sunderlandecho.com.
- "SAFC.COM Past Players/M/". SAFC.COM. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- "English FA Cup- Final 1973". Soccerbase.com. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- Wright, Chris (7 March 2012). "10 Outstanding Goalkeeper Double Saves". Who Ate All the Pies.
- "Post war English and Scottish Football league database". unknown. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- "Jimmy Montgomery". Birminghamcitymad.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- "Keeper Montgomery joins Forest Green". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- Scott, Jim (2 October 2020). "Giant mural of Sunderland football legend appears on side of pub". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 17 January 2021.