THE BEST HEADER OF A BALL - Top 3 for CCFC 1967-2012 ??? (2 Viewers)

johnniericoh · Feb 28, 2012

Nothing better to do so just wondering if you would all like to offer your choices of who is/was the best header of a ball for CCFC from our first season in the big time until now.

To prompt peoples memories listed below are some of the names I can recall (being an old git) and I've split them into Strikers and Defenders all with their respective seasons playing for CCFC - there are obviously more.

I have also nominated my choice as Top Striker and top Defender - so here goes:

Nominated Strikers:

Neil Martin 68-71
Mick Ferguson 71-81
David Cross 73-76
Garry Thompson 77-83
Cyrille Regis 84-91
David Speedie 87-91
Dion Dublin 94-98

Nominated Defenders:

George Curtis 55-69
Roy Barry 69-73
Trevor Peake 83-91
Brian Kilcline 84-91
Mo Konjic 99-04
Richard Keogh 10-??

Therefore my choice for the best header of a ball by a CCFC Striker is:

DION DUBLIN
Not only for power but also for cushioned headers and layoffs

My choice for the best header of a ball by a CCFC Defender is:

BRIAN KILCLINE
Pure power both in defence and attack (corners and set pieces etc)

(The best pound for pound (or inch for inch) header of a ball was surely David Speedie at only 5' 7" this guy could leap like a salmon - he once scored a hat trick of headers against Sheffield Wednesday in the 88/89 season at home !!!)

Thoughts

PUSB

ps: I bet as soon as I press the thread submit button I will think of some others !!!

6 Generations · Feb 28, 2012

The best header of a ball to play for us, in my opinion, was Colin Stein, as brave as a lion!!

David Speedie, despite being vertically challenged, could leap like a salmon.

But, i must question Kilcline's heading ability. I know that he was a committed player for us, but Trevor Peake could head a ball far better than Killer!!

ICHAN · Feb 28, 2012

Best I have seen would have been speedie, as has been said he could leap like a salmon.

Jack Griffin · Feb 28, 2012

Jeff Blockley used to make some trememdous headed clearances. We sold him to Arsenal for good money, where he was pants. For once CCFC got the best of a transfer deal.

1ccfc · Feb 28, 2012

This is an easy one - Keith Houchen! I think he might have scored a headed goal.

_brian_ · Feb 28, 2012

Got to be a mention for Speedie. He could leap like a salmon!!!

mark82 · Feb 28, 2012

Has anyone mentioned Speedie and his ability to leap like a Salmon yet?

LastGarrison · Feb 28, 2012

Sean Flynn deserves a mention as well. Another little fella who punched well above his weight in the heading stakes!!

Stoppercurtis · Feb 28, 2012

Attacker - Dublin ( of course he was a pretty good centre back as well)
Defender - George Curtis

Stopper

Hugh Jarse · Feb 28, 2012

This is an easy one - Keith Houchen! I think he might have scored a headed goal.

Oh yes, 10/10 for that one

TheRoyalScam · Feb 28, 2012

'Heading By Coventry' (written by TRS)

Who was that Scottish striker/midfielder that could jump like a salmon and beat defenders twice his size? He was good. Was it David Speedie?:thinking about:

Red card virtuoso Leon Barnett was really good at heading the ball straight up in the air and almost into orbit.

Scott Dann rarely got beaten in the air.

When George Curtis won defensive headers, he often took out the opposition player at the same time.

Dion was unplayable when we used the McAllister/Dublin near-post corner routine.

Colin Stein was braver than an SAS commando and often ran into brick walls for fun.

For a whole season our only tactic from goal kicks was to hoof the ball for James Scowcroft to head it down the wing. On the one occasion when the ball went to a full-back the whole of the Ricoh stood up and cheered in disbelief.

Nonleagueherewecome · Feb 28, 2012

Leon Barnett helped me to understand the football phrase "head like a 50 pence piece".

Dublin is probably the best, but Speedo the most emotive. I'll never forget that hatrick against Sheff Wed, outjumping men who towered above him. The bloke really could leap like a salmon.

Godiva · Feb 28, 2012

I think John Hartson was a very good header too.

Haven't heard about him since he recovered from cancer (testicles, lung and brain). Is he still alive?

johnniericoh · Feb 28, 2012

Godiva said:
I think John Hartson was a very good header too.

Haven't heard about him since he recovered from cancer (testicles, lung and brain). Is he still alive?

Very much so - pundit on TV regularly

PUSB

pusbccfc · Feb 28, 2012

They aren't the tallest lads in the world but, craine and keogh never get beaten in the air.
And we are all forgetting bakers super jumping skills...

Stevec189 · Feb 28, 2012

Colin Stein and Big Jim Holton were pretty good with their heads! Not bad footballers either! PUSB

Otis · Feb 28, 2012

What about Tony Hateley?

The older ones will remember he was a suberb header of the ball.

SkyBlueScottie · Feb 28, 2012

Dublin and Hartson for me, both very intelligent with headers.

johnniericoh · Feb 28, 2012

Otis said:
What about Tony Hateley?

The older ones will remember he was a suberb header of the ball.

Tony Hateley was indeed one of the best headers of a ball in his time - unfortunately he only played 17 games for CCFC (1968-1969) scoring just 4 goals.

He played for several clubs and always scored goals:

Notts County
A Villa
Chelsea
Liverpool
CCFC
Birmingham
Notts County
Oldham

I remember him well in his short spell with us as he used to frequent the City Supporters Club in Thackhall St (my local at the time).

A truly nice guy with no superstar illusions of grandeur and was also a terrific snooker player, saw him shoot a break of 47 once without even trying.

PUSB

Paxman II · Feb 28, 2012

For me Neil Martin could head ball accurately and get fantastic power. I have never seen anyone do that since. Most effective though would be Dublin as he used the ball so well.

Defender. There have been many but from your list Kilcline.

oakey · Feb 28, 2012

Stein, Martin and Ferguson.
Saw all of them play and these were the best...Cross a worthy runner up...Dublin was not in the same class.

Defenders:
Holton, Lloyd and Curtis

How spoilt we were in the golden age of the 70s and 80s

wingy · Feb 28, 2012

Wheres kevin Kyle , i know he was pretty universally vilified and he did'nt score too many but he was very strong in the air ,excellent flick ons ,few mentions of tony Hately in here ,his son Tom. was also very useful

percy · Feb 28, 2012

david speedie for me. i cant remember to many players scoring a hat trick of headers for us. can anyone else ??

Regis87 · Feb 28, 2012

Without doubt the leaping salmon Speedie . What about Gary Breen for near post flick ons from corners for Dion to nod in .
We all want a team of Gary Breens

torchomatic · Feb 28, 2012

Cyrille. He could head a penalty.

curlyc_ · Feb 28, 2012

Although he only played about 10 minutes for us Mick Harford did score a match winning header in that time so deserves to be on any good headerer list.

blueflint · Feb 28, 2012

mark hateley must be in with a shout he was brill in the air

DukeOfCov · Feb 28, 2012

Dion Dublin - could always rely on him scoring, equally as good defending..

johnniericoh · Feb 28, 2012

Yes Mark was a throwback from his dad Tony and was just a bairn at the time of Tony's association with CCFC.

A friend of mine JC used to babysit Mark little knowing that this whippersnapper of a lad would eventually become virtually a world class centreforward of his day playing for clubs like Milan, Monaco, Rangers and of course England for 32 games scoring 9 goals.

And yes he was a superb header of a ball just like his old man BUT had many, many other attributes to make him a complete centreforward and a legend.

PUSB

dadgad · Feb 28, 2012

Martin, Stein, Dublin and Hartson were all good headers.
I think Tony Hately played with Martin, that must have been formidable. Defensively I remember Peake who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time but Dublin was awesome in this role too and so, due to his dual strength, I'd say he was the best.

sky blue john · Feb 28, 2012

And the winner by a ginger whisker SPEEDOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!

rob9872 · Feb 28, 2012

Dublin and Speedie as the best, but the hardest I've ever seen a ball headed was McPake last season in hte warmn-ups. HE must have headed 4 or 5 consecutive when kicked up for him back into the opposition half. Clearly can't be much going on inside!

DiveDiveWhereverYouMayBe · Feb 28, 2012

I can't remember the fixture, but Hartson set up a goal in the box when I was bracing myself for being pissed off that he didn't have an effort on goal. It was cushioned perfectly and whoever it was to couldn't miss. I realised we had a good striker on our hands then. In recent memory, Dublin. Great header against Southampton springs to mind (although even Grobelaar - sic - trying to throw the game couldn't stop them running out 1-3 winners).

johnniericoh · Feb 28, 2012

Great response folks many with new and worthy additions to my original lists all contenders for the top spot - particularly like:

Colin Stein
John Hartson
Tony Hateley
Mark Hateley

and

Jeff Blockley
James McPake
Jim Holton

PUSB

junglej13 · Feb 28, 2012

Nonleagueherewecome said:
Leon Barnett helped me to understand the football phrase "head like a 50 pence piece".

Mo Konjic did the same for me. Dublin and Hartson were both superb headers of a ball. Dublins last goal for us away at the Dell is one of the best headers you will ever see. Behind him, moving away from goal and on the edge of the area!

THE BEST HEADER OF A BALL - Top 3 for CCFC 1967-2012 ??? (2 Viewers)

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