This is an 'Emergency'!

This is an 'Emergency'!

Fans of rival League One clubs were perplexed when promotion-chasing Peterborough United were allowed to replace the injured Christy Pym with a replacement ‘keeper, in the form of promising young stopper, Joe Bursik from Stoke.

This was despite the fact Darren Ferguson had two back-up goalkeepers in his squad and had many questioning the rule itself and the requirements for emergency loans.

But what other goalkeepers have been brought in after an SOS call and what level of success did they have?

 

David Stockdale -  Wycombe to Stevenage, 2021

David Stockdale has been a relatively solid EFL goalkeeper in his eighteen-year career, amassing over 130 appearances for Brighton and perhaps harshly sold by the Seagulls following their promotion to the Premier League in 2017 (he did make a costly error to cost Brighton the title).

Having not played competitively for Wycombe after signing for the club in the summer of 2020, Stockdale joined Stevenage for just a fortnight in February of this year after an injury to first-choice, Jamie Cummings.

It may have only been a two-week affair, but what a two weeks.

Stockdale played his first three games in over a year, which included a clean sheet in a 1-0 away win at Tranmere with an assist for the only goal and in his final game saving a last-minute penalty, featuring in the EFL League Two Team of the Week after both games.

The thirty-five-year-old has subsequently played the majority of games for Wycombe upon his return.

 

Paul Jones - Southampton to Liverpool, 2004

One of the more bizzare inclusions in the list, a thirty-six-year-old Paul Jones moved to Liverpool from Southampton on a three-week emergency loan deal back in the 2003/04 season when both Jerzey Dudek and Chris Kirkland were injured.

Jones, who had spent seven years at Southampton mainly as first choice, made two appearances for Gerard Houllier’s side in a victory at home to Aston Villa and a defeat away to Spurs, before joining Wolves on a longer-term deal.

Despite the fleetingness of his tenure at Liverpool, Jones described his time at Anfield as a ‘dream’ and would likely not have been given the chance to play for the six-time European champions had injuries not befallen the Reds.

 

Martin Fulop - Sunderland to Manchester City, 2010

The late Martin Fulop enjoyed a good career in the Premier League, mainly with Sunderland and West Brom, but also a spell with the side who would be champions just two years later, Manchester City.

Fulop had played fourteen times for Sunderland in the 2009/10 campaign, deputising for Craig Gordon, but was signed by Roberto Mancini on an emergency loan for City’s final three games after injuries to Shay Given and Joe Hart.

City were still mathematically in with a chance of Champions League qualification but a hapless team performance against Spurs in a 1-0 defeat ensured they would finish outside the top four, something they have not done since.

Fulop joined Ipswich Town in the summer of 2010, joining up with his former manager Roy Keane.


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