DAVID JAMES

POSITION : GOALKEEPER

1992 / 93

BORN: Welwyn Garden City 1.8.70

TRANSFER FEE: 1,000,000 (from Watford, July 1992).

HONOURS: League Cup 94/5; England Youth, Under-21, B

OTHER CLUBS: Watford.

APPEARANCES : 154

GOALS : 0

INFO :

Liverpool had been linked with Watford's young goalkeeper for several months before David James finally arrive d for over one million pounds in the summer of 1992. After Grobbelaar played at Wembley in the Charity Shield James made his debut in the first League game of the season at Sheffield United.

James played in the first 11 games of the 1992/93 season but he soon lost his place as Souness juggled his three keepers, apparently unsure who was his first choice - at one point Souness used three different keepers in three successive games. James was recalled after the FA Cup defeat by Bolton. On 31st January Liver pool won 1-0 at Arsenal - it was James' first clean sheet in his 14th appearance. James kept his place for most of the rest of the season but his confidence seemed to be shot to pieces and he looked particularly uneasy with crosses.

With Mike Hooper gone G robbelaar started the 1993/94 season as first choice with James now definitely second choice - he was even offered as part exchange in an abortive bid to bring Tim Flowers to Anfield. Souness left in January and initially new manager Roy Evans persevered with the veteran Grobbelaar. However, David James was brought in for Evans' first home game. Liverpool gained their first win under Roy Evans in his fourth game in charge and James has never looked back. He has played every game since.

Evans shrewdest move concerning his goalkeepers was still to come. Despite the advantage of having an experienced back-up, Evans allowed Grobbelaar to leave on free transfer in the summer of 1994. With the knowledge that he was first choice keeper, James' confidence grew vis ibly. He was rewarded with an England B call-up at Anfield in December and won his first winners medal in the Coca Cola Cup in April 1995, although he could not add another winners medal at Wembley the following year in the FA Cup.

James now looks assured of a place in the Liverpool side for years to come in the tradition of Clemence and Grobbelaar. He was voted the best keeper in the Premiership by his fellow professionals in 1996 and finally broke into the full England squad at the beginning of the 1996/ 97 season.

PICTURE :

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