Richard Wilson (footballer)
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Richard Wilson (born 8 May 1956) was a New Zealand soccer player, who was a goalkeeper during the country's only successful campaign to qualify for the World Cup, in 1982. His international career spanned from 1979 to 1987, and played National League soccer in Australia until 1989. He returned to New Zealand in 1996 and is now player-coach of minor-league side Avon. He was recently the coach of the Wesley College Year 10 'A' soccer side in Perth, Australia however he opted out of the job just days before the seasons start leaving the team is disarray.
Despite being the only goalkeeper used during the qualifying campaign, he was replaced as goalkeeper for the finals tournament in Spain by Frank van Hattum. No official explanation for Wilson's dropping has ever emerged, although numerous theories have abounded.
For a considerable time, Wilson held the record for a goalkeeper in any World Cup qualifying or finals tournament, having not conceded a goal in 921 minutes of soccer, including matches against Fiji (twice), China-Taipei (twice), Indonesia (twice), China P.R. (twice) and Australia (once). During this time he became a hero of many young footballers.
His record clean sheet came to a dramatic end during a World Cup home qualifying fixture against Kuwait. Kuwait were controversially awarded a penalty by the Indonesian referee. Wilson spectacularly saved the spot kick only to have a further penalty awarded against NZ 10 minutes later. The second penalty found the back of the net bringing to an end Wilson's record. The taking of the second penalty was delayed for some minutes after an irate fan ran onto the field to remonstrate with the referee. Following the game there was much speculation that the referee had been bribed to fix the match.
[edit] Club history
- Nelson United (1979)
- Canberra City (Australia) (1980)
- Preston Makedonia (Australia) (1981-1982) and (1984-1985)
[edit] External links
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New Zealand squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup | |
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1 Wilson | 2 Dods | 3 Herbert | 4 Turner | 5 Bright | 6 Almond | 7 Rufer | 8 Cole | 9 Wooddin | 10 Sumner | 11 Malcolmson | 12 Mackay | 13 Cresswell | 14 Elrick | 15 Hill | 16 Adam | 17 Boath | 18 Simonsen | 19 McClure | 20 Turner | 21 Pickering | 22 van Hattum | Coach: Adshead |
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