For this interview, I start a new project as I look back at England
National Team’s One-Cap Wonders in the 1980s.
This will be a semi-regular and continuous series.
The Interviewee is:
Mr. Davey Naylor of https://englandstats.com/
Mr.
Naylor’s contact info:
support@englandstats.com
@gingerdaveski
@englandstats
My contact information:
on twitter @sp1873 and on
facebook under Soccernostalgia.
England National
Team’s One-Cap Wonders in the 1980s.
In the decade of
1980s England were managed by Ron Greenwood and Bobby Robson. They each
selected many players with the National Team who had short careers. They were a
selected few within the decade that only managed a single appearance.
I look back at England National Team’s One-Cap Wonders in the
1980s.
The aim is to
look upon the reason, background, and circumstances why a certain player was
selected for a match but never again.
Alan
Sunderland and Peter Ward, 1980:
Alan Sunderland
of Arsenal and Brighton’s Peter Ward played their only match in a friendly on
May 31st, 1980, vs. Australia (2-1 win) at Sydney. In fact, Ward
replaced Sunderland in the last five minutes.
This was a
friendly ahead of the 1980 Euros used as a last chance for players on the
fringes to stake a claim for the Finals squad.
For Ron
Greenwood, neither player was seen as anything other than players just making
up the numbers.
26-year-old, Sunderland
was a striker with Arsenal known for scoring the winner in the 1979 FA Cup
Final vs. Manchester United.
He represented England
at U-21 and U-23 level in the 1970s and earned 7 England B caps (1978-1981).
He broke through
with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the early 70s, before transferring to Arsenal
in 1977.
He left Arsenal
in 1984 to join Ipswich Town. He suffered relegation in 1986 and the joined
Northern Irish side Derry City for a final stint in 1987 before retiring.
.jpg) |
Photo From: Panini England 1979/80
|
(Alan Sunderland) |
The 24-year-old Peter
Ward was a prolific striker for Brighton in their first season back at the
First Division. He represented England at U-21 level on two occasions in 1977
and 1980.
He started out at
Burton Albion in 1974, before joining Brighton in 1975.
He left Brighton
in 1980 to join Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest. His spell there was not
successful and was loaned to Brighton and NASL’s Seattle Sounders.
He joined the NASL outright in 1984 by signing for Vancouver Whitecaps and remained in USA and lined up for the likes of Cleveland Force, Tacoma Stars, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Wichita Wings, Baltimore Blast and Tampa Bay terror at Indoor level for the remainder of the decade and into the next.
.jpg)
Photo From: Panini England 1979/80
|
(Peter Ward) |
Steve
Perryman and Paul Goddard, 1982:
Two years later,
on June 2nd, 1982, at Reykjavik, Tottenham’s Steve Perryman and West
Ham’s Paul Goddard made their solitary appearances for England in a (1-1) tie
vs. Iceland. Perryman entered in the last ten minutes replacing Alan Devonshire
and Goddard replaced Cyrille Regis in the 40th minute. They were the
final One Cap Wonders of Ron Greenwood. Like the match vs. Australia in 1980,
this match in Iceland was also a final test for fringe squad players to make
the 1982 World Cup Finals squad.
Perryman was a
legend of Tottenham, often cited as a reference example of a player who
deserved more caps. In 1982, he was voted as Football
Writers' Association Footballer
of the Year and this cap was perhaps a reward.
The 30-year-old
Perryman spent 17 years at Tottenham (1969-1986). He won the FA Cup in 1981 and
1982, as well as the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 with the club.
He was also part
of the Tottenham squads that won the UEFA Cup in 1972 and 1984.
He left in 1986
to join Oxford United for one season (1986/87). He joined Brentford in 1987,
before retiring in 1990.
He represented
England at U-21 level in the 1970s.
.jpg) |
Photo From: Panini England 1981/82
|
(Steve Perryman) |
The 22-year-old West
Ham United striker Paul Goddard was a potential striking option but nothing
more, despite performing well for his club. In his only cap, in this match vs.
Iceland, Goddard scored England’s goal. He became the first England player to
score while playing less than a complete match. This was not enough to gain
further caps.
He started out at
Queens Park Rangers in 1977 before joining West Ham United in 1980.
He remained with
the club until 1986 before joining Newcastle United.
The rest of his
career included spells with Derby County (1988-89), Milwall (1989-91) and
Ipswich Town (1991-1994) prior to retirement.
He represented
England at U-21 level in the early 80s.
_314x405.jpg) |
Photo From: Panini England 1981/82
|
(Paul Goddard) |
Nigerl
Spink and Nick Pickering, 1983:
In the following
year, 1983, under new Manager Bobby Robson, Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink
and Sunderland midfielder Nick Pickering represented England on a Tour of
Australia. In a three-match Tour vs. the host Nation, the duo played on June 19th,
1983, at Melbourne (Australia 1-England 1). Spink replaced Peter Shilton in the
second half, while Pickering played the entire match.
In this end of
season Tour of Australia, Robson tested a number of players due to withdrawals
of regulars. It is doubtful if Spink and Pickering would have even been selected
in the first place.
24-year-old Spink
was known for stepping in early in the match for injured Aston Villa goalkeeper
Jimmy Rimmer in the previous year’s Champions Cup Final vs. Bayern Munich.
He started out at
Chelmsford City in 1976 before signing for Aston Villa in 1977.
He remained with
Aston Villa until 1996 (winning the League Cup in 1994 along the way).
The remainder of
his career included spells with West Bromwich Albion (1996-97), Milwall
(1997-2000) and Forest Green Rovers (2000-01) before retiring.
He had two caps
for England B National Team in 1991.
.jpg)
Photo From: Panini England 1983/84
|
(Nigel Spink) |
The 19-year-old
Pickering had been a consistent performer for Sunderland but was at this point
more of an option for the U-21 squad.
He represented
England U-21 from 1982 to 1986.
He started out at
Sunderland in 1981 before leaving to join Coventry City in 1986.
The remainder of
his career included spells with Derby County (1988-1991), Darlington
(1991-1993) and Burnley (1993-1994) before retiring.
Photo From: Panini England 1983/84
|
(Nick Pickering) |
Brian
Stein, 1984:
Luton forward
Brian Stein was tried out in a friendly match in Paris vs. France on February
29, 1984 (0-2 loss). He was replaced in the 78th minute by Tony
Woodcock.
He
formed a prolific partnership with Paul Walsh at club level, that was tried out
for this match without much success.
He
made a handful of appearances for the U-21 England National Team in this
period.
The
26-year-old South African born striker started out with Luton Town in 1977 and
remained until 1988 (along with his brother Mark).
He
won the League Cup with the club in 1988.
He
joined French side Caen in 1988 and remained with the club for two seasons and
spent one more season in lower League French side Annecy (1990-91).
He
returned to Luton in 1991 for one year and then had spells at Barnet (1992-93)
and St Albans City (1994-95) before retiring.
.jpg)
Photo From: Panini England 1983/84
|
(Brian Stein) |
Peter
Davenport, 1985:
A year later, on
March 26, 1985, just two days after his 24th Birthday, Nottingham
Forest striker Peter Davenport was selected in a friendly vs. the Republic of
Ireland (2-1 win). The match is remembered for Gary Lineker’s first goal for
England. Davenport replaced Mark Hateley in the 73rd minute.
Davenport was
transferred to Manchester United shortly thereafter and failed to capitalize on
his move which limited any future opportunities.
He started out at
Cammell Laird in 1980 before joining Nottingahm Forest in 1982 for the best
spell of his career. Ron Atkinson signed him for Manchester United in 1986.
The remainder of
his career included spells with Middlesbrough (1988-90), Sunderland (1990-93),
Airdrie (1993-94), St. Johnstone (1994-95), Stockport County (1995), Southport
(1995-97), Macclesfield Town (1997-2000), Congleton Town (2001) and Bangor City
(2001-04) before retiring.
Photo From: Panini England 1984/85
|
(Peter Davenport) |
Danny
Wallace, 1986:
22 year-old Southampton
striker Danny Wallace managed to score in his only match for his Nation on
January 29th, 1986, at Cairo vs. Egypt (4-0 win). The oldest of the
Wallace trio (along with twins Rod and Ray) did not make the best of his move
to Manchester United either and did not get further opportunities.
He represented
England at U-21 level in the 80s and earned one B cap in 1990.
He started out
with Southampton in 1980 and remained there until 1989.
Alex Ferguson signed him for Manchester United
in 1989. He was not a regular but was part of the 1990 FA Cup,1991 Cup Winners
Cup and 1992 League Cup winning sides of Manchester United.
After a loan
spell with Milwall in 1993, he joined Birmingham City in 1993. He left Birmingham
City in 1995 for a brief spell at Wycombe Wanderers before retiring in 1995.
Photo From: Panini England 1985/86
|
(Danny Wallace) |
Mel
Sterland and Brian Marwood, 1988:
More than two
years later, Sheffield Wednesday right-back defender Mel Sterland and Arsenal’s
Brian Marwood played in a friendly in Riyadh vs. Saudi Arabia on November 16th,
1988 (1-1 tie). Sterland played the entire match, while Marwood came on in the
81st minute for Chris Waddle.
This match was
used to give a run-out to many inexperienced players that included players from
League leaders Arsenal and their winger Marwood benefited from good club form
at the time.
The
27-year-old Mel Sterland was a consistent defender and deserved more caps.
He
started out at Sheffield Wednesday in the late 70s and remained with the club
until relegation in 1989. He had a brief spell at Rangers Glasgow in 1989
(winning the League title), before joining Leeds United in 1989. He helped the
club win promotion in 1990, as well as the League title in 1992 (the last of
the Pre-Premier League era).
After
leaving Leeds in 1994, he had brief spells at Boston United and Denaby United
before retiring.
He
was a member of England’s U-21 squad in the 1983-84 span.
28-year-old
winger Brian Marwood started out at Hull City in 1979. He left in 1984 to join
Sheffield Wednesday. George Graham signed him for Arsenal in 1988.
He
was part of the 1989 League winning side.
The remainder of
his career included spells with Sheffield United (1990-92), Middlesbrough
(1992), Swindon Town (1992-1993) and Barnet (1993-1994) before retiring.
.jpg)
Photo From: Panini England 1988/89
|
(Mel Sterland) |
.jpg)
Photo From: Panini England 1988/89
|
(Brian Marwood) |
Mike
Phelan, 1989:
The decade’s last
lone cap was Manchester United midfielder Mike Phelan. He replaced club-mate
Bryan Robson at halftime in a scoreless friendly vs. Italy on November 15th,
1989, at Wembley. After a good season in 1988/89 with Norwich, Alex Ferguson
signed him in the summer of 1989. He was a member of the early Manchester
United title winning sides under Ferguson. He was also Bobby Robson’s final one
cap wonder.
The 27-year-old
midfielder started at Burnley in 1979 and remained with the club until 1985. He
joined Norwich City in 1985 before signing for Manchester United in 1989. He
was part of the 1990 FA Cup, 1991 Cup Winners Cup and 1992 League Cup winning
sides of Manchester United. He was also part of Manchester United’s Premier
League winning sides of 1993 and 1994 (the Double).
He had a final
stint at West Bromwich Albion (1994-95) before retiring.
 |
Photo From: Panini England 1989/90
|
(Mike Phelan) |
Conclusion:
In analyzing the
circumstances for these players, the common thread appears to be that none were
seen as potential future caps. They were chosen in mostly friendlies or Tours.
They were also called up when established players were missing.
They were good
club players but perhaps not International level players.
On one or two
cases, their selection was long overdue and deserved more recognition.
Most were players
in forward positions at a time when more consistent players such as Lineker,
Hateley or Beardsley were blocking their path.
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