Phil Kite

[andybrizz]

So, I walked into the waiting room at my dentist down here in Brizz and who should be sat there but Phil Kite, he smiled and nodded and carried on reading his paper. He's the physio down at Bristol Rovers and has been for years, I so wanted to mention I was a Blade and ask him about his time at BDTBL but couldn't for the life of me remember how he got on in his time as a Blade.

I remember he got his break in the team near the start of the 90/91 season, our first season back in Div 1 when Simon Tracy got taken out in the first game of the season by Ian Rush, I remember he only played a dozen or so games but don't remember how he got on and if we liked him or not.

Any thoughts on how he played, should I have mentioned his time with us or do you think he may have punched me out ...... he is a big lad by the way?

 

[cahill]

Seem to remember him as a decent keeper. He had Mel Rees (RIP), Kelly and Tracy to contend with. Those were the days

 

[alcoblade]

He was cack, in all honesty. Always dived and rolled in spectacular fashion which was initially impressive, until you realised he never saved very much at all.

UTB

 

[Kenilworth]

I always thought of him as a high flyer

 

[moDtheGod]

That was around the time I started following us and I don't remember him particularly fondly. But as a kid with not much of a grasp on the game yet, I may have been harsh. Perhaps he was just unlucky?

 

[SwissBlade]

He wasn't a patch on Rees, Tracey nor Kelly. But those three were the best keepers in my generation and were all premier league standard. Do Kite had a lot to contend with.

I too remember him as half decent, he'd certainly have done ok compared to a few of the most recent keepers we've had.

My favourite keepers over the last 20 odd years

Rees
Kelly
Tracey
Paddy
Long
Kite

 

[dublin 10 blade]

He wasn't a patch on Rees, Tracey nor Kelly. But those three were the best keepers in my generation and were all premier league standard. Do Kite had a lot to contend with.

I too remember him as half decent, he'd certainly have done ok compared to a few of the most recent keepers we've had.

My favourite keepers over the last 20 odd years

Rees
Kelly
Tracey
Paddy
Long
Kite

Where's nicky johns in that list . , oh sorry before your time .

 

[JJ Sefton]

We got him from Bournemouth I think. I suppose he was unfortunate that most of his football was played in a team which was getting pumped week in, week out.

 

[Racy]

He wasn't a patch on Rees, Tracey nor Kelly. But those three were the best keepers in my generation and were all premier league standard. Do Kite had a lot to contend with.

I too remember him as half decent, he'd certainly have done ok compared to a few of the most recent keepers we've had.

My favourite keepers over the last 20 odd years

Rees
Kelly
Tracey
Paddy
Long
Kite

Worst keepers since I've been a Blade (48yrs)

Widdowson
Hope
Richardson
Conroy
Tomlinson
Benstead
Johns
Ramsbottom
Simmo.

Any more candidates got to have played a few games

 

[cooperblade]

Linesman gave a free kick against Kite for stepping outside his box with the ball whilst taking a goalkick at Elland Road. Think it's the only time I've seen a free kick given for that.

Leeds scored the free kick (Sterland?) on their way to a 4-0 half time lead. We pulled it back to 4-3 in the 2nd half and the celebrations when the 3rd went in were brilliant. Obviously being United it ended up another glorious failure.

 

[Darren]

Kite played 7 league games and 2 League Cup games when Tracey was injured Aug-Oct 1990 and then 4 league games and 3 League Cup games when Tracey was injured again in Sept-Oct 1991. His final game was a one off in the FA Cup at Chelsea in Feb 92

In those 17 games he conceded 26 goals, which isn't that bad, but he only managed 3 clean sheets - 2 of them against lower division opposition in the League Cup.

He was an ok back up keeper, and was the main reserve from Aug 90 to Mar 92 when Rees was signed. Rees was, of course, out of action from the end of 91-92 and Bassett obviously didn;t fancy Kite as 2nd choice any more and signed Kelly. Kite then had a few stints on the bench as a non playing sub and went out on loan a couple of times before being released at the end of 92-93.

 

[Grecian2000]

Worst keepers since I've been a Blade (48yrs)

Widdowson
Hope
Richardson
Conroy
Tomlinson
Benstead
Johns
Ramsbottom
Simmo.

Any more candidates got to have played a few games

I'd swap out Conroy, Tomlinson and Benstead and replace them with Connaughton and Burridge with a potential spot waiting for Howard if he doesn't improve next time I see him.

 

[Racy]

I'd swap out Conroy, Tomlinson and Benstead and replace them with Connaughton and Burridge with a potential spot waiting for Howard if he doesn't improve next time I see him.

I was going to put Budgie in but I thought I'd be under fire
Great entertainment at times though

 

[Deadbat]

Been going since around 83-84

My list of worst to best of the main keepers that played would go something like:

Leaning - thought he was awful. Small and any high balls would lead to goals
Howard - he had maybe 4 or 5 decent games to start his career and since then he has been abject and every time he comes in he makes an error
Simonsen - although decent when on loan; he made so many errors and also was shocking on crosses
Bunn - never have I seen a keeper manage to miss so many shots!
Tomlinson - young and made some spectacular saves but often made errors when I watched him
Gerrard - only a back up but recall more errors or lack of communication than great saves
Kite - not the best as above. He was another keeper that did not make saves!
Benstead - started ok but got worse and Bassett replaced him with Tracey
Burridge - made some ricks but a real character who made some spectacular saves
Bennett - never really let us down and thought he was a steady keeper
Long - improving, Good shot stopper but needs to communicate and dominate more
Waugh - he was ok and prob did better in lower leagues before I saw him and was replaced eventually
Rees - Short spell but looked a top keeper and but for what happened would have had a really good and long career
Kenny - despite way he left and some odd mistakes he was a good keeper and if he had ever taken game seriously could have been even better
Kelly - superb shot stopper and had some unbelievable individual displays. Felt he just lacked that domination a top, top class keeper needed
Tracey - controversial but I preferred him to AK. I know he had some 'brains of a rocking horse moments - Bassett' but he was superb as we won 2 promotions and but he was a top class keeper and could command his box, take crosses, brave and made those saves you did not expect.

Also played (again in order of worst to first):

Baxter - worst 45 mins of a Utd player ever?
Day - played one game a 0-3 at Wimbledon (or Palace as it was then) and was awful
De Vogt - looked dreadful. 6 foot and could not catch
Davison - remember him being part of the man city 6-0 was it?
Fettis - did better than Baxter and then he too looked shaky
Barnes - barely played
Hansbury - as above
Talia - as above
Wright - poor when he played and looked a far cry from good keeper that was at Ipswich
Ikeme - thought he was ok and doing well for Wolves now
Mercer - quite small but a decent shot stopper
Goram - end of career but could see why he had played top level
Segers - he was excellent in his brief spell at the Lane on loan but later events saw him not as liked by us lot!

Missed anyone? Carl Muggleton played one game as an outfield sub!

 

[Jack Jarvis Esquire ⚔]

come on lads how can anyone forget jags against arsenal and i think my avatar says who my fav keeper is

 

[Darren]

Been going since around 83-84

My list of worst to best of the main keepers that played would go something like:

Leaning - thought he was awful. Small and any high balls would lead to goals
Howard - he had maybe 4 or 5 decent games to start his career and since then he has been abject and every time he comes in he makes an error
Simonsen - although decent when on loan; he made so many errors and also was shocking on crosses
Bunn - never have I seen a keeper manage to miss so many shots!
Tomlinson - young and made some spectacular saves but often made errors when I watched him
Gerrard - only a back up but recall more errors or lack of communication than great saves
Kite - not the best as above. He was another keeper that did not make saves!
Benstead - started ok but got worse and Bassett replaced him with Tracey
Burridge - made some ricks but a real character who made some spectacular saves
Bennett - never really let us down and thought he was a steady keeper
Long - improving, Good shot stopper but needs to communicate and dominate more
Waugh - he was ok and prob did better in lower leagues before I saw him and was replaced eventually
Rees - Short spell but looked a top keeper and but for what happened would have had a really good and long career
Kenny - despite way he left and some odd mistakes he was a good keeper and if he had ever taken game seriously could have been even better
Kelly - superb shot stopper and had some unbelievable individual displays. Felt he just lacked that domination a top, top class keeper needed
Tracey - controversial but I preferred him to AK. I know he had some 'brains of a rocking horse moments - Bassett' but he was superb as we won 2 promotions and but he was a top class keeper and could command his box, take crosses, brave and made those saves you did not expect.

Also played (again in order of worst to first):

Baxter - worst 45 mins of a Utd player ever?
Day - played one game a 0-3 at Wimbledon (or Palace as it was then) and was awful
De Vogt - looked dreadful. 6 foot and could not catch
Davison - remember him being part of the man city 6-0 was it?
Fettis - did better than Baxter and then he too looked shaky
Barnes - barely played
Hansbury - as above
Talia - as above
Wright - poor when he played and looked a far cry from good keeper that was at Ipswich
Ikeme - thought he was ok and doing well for Wolves now
Mercer - quite small but a decent shot stopper
Goram - end of career but could see why he had played top level
Segers - he was excellent in his brief spell at the Lane on loan but later events saw him not as liked by us lot!

Missed anyone? Carl Muggleton played one game as an outfield sub!

You missed Kristian Rodgers' one League Cup appearance in Sept 03 and Gary Kelly's one appearance at Watford in May 03

Day's game was at Wimbldeon and whilst he was generally awful, he save a last minute pen from the man of integrity J. Fashanu.

 

[Deadbat]

Forgot Gary Kelly. Did not realise Rodgers even played? Is he the one signed off a video?

As for outfield players going on goal over my lifetime my memory is sketchy:

Jags did it a few times; remember Plymouth away a 0-3 defeat, the 2-1 win v Millwall and the 1-0 v Arsenal. Was there a few more?

Paul Stancliffe also did it a few times in the mid 80's. Luton away and West Brom away ring a bell but without getting my old Blades history books would not know for sure?

Don Hutchison v Ipswich (2-2 draw) after Tracey collided with a post in 1997.

Shaun Derry at Pompey (the game where the fan ran on and struck the linesman?) around 1998.

Probably a lot more that Darren will fill in I am sure.

Jags was easily the most competent of the lot but had more games.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Woody always seemed pretty decent when he went in goal. As for the keepers, to add a bit more

John Hope - Steady, but made a few errors and got replaced

John Connaughton - Didn't play much, seemed OK but nothing brilliant

Tom McAllister - Was probably the best I saw for the Blades. But for injury would've been one of the greats.

Jim Brown - Not spectacular, but generally reliable. Weak on crosses.

 

[Darren]

Forgot Gary Kelly. Did not realise Rodgers even played? Is he the one signed off a video?

As for outfield players going on goal over my lifetime my memory is sketchy:

Jags did it a few times; remember Plymouth away a 0-3 defeat, the 2-1 win v Millwall and the 1-0 v Arsenal. Was there a few more?

Paul Stancliffe also did it a few times in the mid 80's. Luton away and West Brom away ring a bell but without getting my old Blades history books would not know for sure?

Don Hutchison v Ipswich (2-2 draw) after Tracey collided with a post in 1997.

Shaun Derry at Pompey (the game where the fan ran on and struck the linesman?) around 1998.

Probably a lot more that Darren will fill in I am sure.

Jags was easily the most competent of the lot but had more games.

Rodgers was indeed the video signing.

Off the top of my head, outfield players in goal since 83-4 also include Jags at Palace on 26/8/03 and Nilsen at home to Norwich after Kelly was injured on 9/2/97.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

What about Worksop's finest - Alan Hodgkinson? Capped five times for England has to be worth something.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

He wasn't a patch on Rees, Tracey nor Kelly. But those three were the best keepers in my generation and were all premier league standard. Do Kite had a lot to contend with.

I too remember him as half decent, he'd certainly have done ok compared to a few of the most recent keepers we've had.

My favourite keepers over the last 20 odd years

Rees
Kelly
Tracey
Paddy
Long
Kite

When you get up fella we'll still be in bed I think .
So Nollaig Shona Dhuit Athbhliain Faol Maisie Dhuit
Merry Christmas and a happy new year in Gaelic .
Enjoy your sushi & wasabi dinner washed done with large amounts of sake .

 

[Silent Blade]

Rodgers was indeed the video signing.

Off the top of my head, outfield players in goal since 83-4 also include Jags at Palace on 26/8/03 and Nilsen at home to Norwich after Kelly was injured on 9/2/97.

Stancliffe stood in for the injured Hansbury once in 1987 ish didnt he? Was it at WBA?

 

[Silent Blade]

Woody always seemed pretty decent when he went in goal. As for the keepers, to add a bit more

John Hope - Steady, but made a few errors and got replaced

John Connaughton - Didn't play much, seemed OK but nothing brilliant

Tom McAllister - Was probably the best I saw for the Blades. But for injury would've been one of the greats.

Jim Brown - Not spectacular, but generally reliable. Weak on crosses.

All the keepers you mentioned played for us in the 1973-74 season. McAlister broke his leg in October 1973 and Connaughton took his place before being dropped in Jan 74, making way to Hope and then we signed Brown just before the transfer deadline day and my dad said he was brilliant in his debut at Man City (we won with a corner by Salmons)

 

[Silent Blade]

Linesman gave a free kick against Kite for stepping outside his box with the ball whilst taking a goalkick at Elland Road. Think it's the only time I've seen a free kick given for that.

Leeds scored the free kick (Sterland?) on their way to a 4-0 half time lead. We pulled it back to 4-3 in the 2nd half and the celebrations when the 3rd went in were brilliant. Obviously being United it ended up another glorious failure.

Yes, it was Sterland. TV replays showed Kite released the ball from his hands before stepping outside his box but the linesman was waving his flag at his girlfriend!

 

[Darren]

Stancliffe stood in for the injured Hansbury once in 1987 ish didnt he? Was it at WBA?

Yes Deadbat mentioned that.

 

[Darren]

Forgot Gary Kelly. Did not realise Rodgers even played? Is he the one signed off a video?

As for outfield players going on goal over my lifetime my memory is sketchy:

Jags did it a few times; remember Plymouth away a 0-3 defeat, the 2-1 win v Millwall and the 1-0 v Arsenal. Was there a few more?

Paul Stancliffe also did it a few times in the mid 80's. Luton away and West Brom away ring a bell but without getting my old Blades history books would not know for sure?

Don Hutchison v Ipswich (2-2 draw) after Tracey collided with a post in 1997.

Shaun Derry at Pompey (the game where the fan ran on and struck the linesman?) around 1998.

Probably a lot more that Darren will fill in I am sure.

Jags was easily the most competent of the lot but had more games.

Just recalled it was Cockerill who went in goal in the LC game at Luton on 8/10/85.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Day's game was at Wimbldeon and whilst he was generally awful, he save a last minute pen from the man of integrity J. Fashanu.

One of the oddest games I ever saw. Wasn't that the one where Fash kept leaping up to slap the ball?

 

[Maidenhead]

Linesman gave a free kick against Kite for stepping outside his box with the ball whilst taking a goalkick at Elland Road. Think it's the only time I've seen a free kick given for that.

Leeds scored the free kick (Sterland?) on their way to a 4-0 half time lead. We pulled it back to 4-3 in the 2nd half and the celebrations when the 3rd went in were brilliant. Obviously being United it ended up another glorious failure.

You know I always thought Tracey was in goal that day.

We ended that game ripping em apart. I reckon that if there had been 10 more minutes to go we would have won that game.

Not only did Sterland score that goal but it was at the second attempt too if my memory serves me right

 

[cooperblade]

You know I always thought Tracey was in goal that day.

We ended that game ripping em apart. I reckon that if there had been 10 more minutes to go we would have won that game.

Not only did Sterland score that goal but it was at the second attempt too if my memory serves me right

Did Carl Shutt play and was it just after he'd been beaten up in Sheffield?

 

[diplomat]

The one with Fash playing basketball, twice because the ref inexplicably did not give a pen the first time, was 1-1. A game Bradshaw said he remembers because Vinny went went to see his Wimbledon cronies before the game. On his return he said 'I think we're going to okay today lads, it's going to be a draw'.

The one where we had faded Leeds legend Day in net was on the last game of the season when we had around 5,500 of an 8,500 crowd at Selhurst. We lost horribly 3-0. I remember Robbie Earle looking good, can't think of anyone playing remotely well for us. Our fans invaded the pitch and snapped the crossbars at the end.