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Mervyn Day had a bright start to his career, and after only a
short time with West Ham, he was being spoken of as a racing
certainty to be the next great England keeper. He became the
youngest keeper ever to appear in a FA Cup Final in 1975, but a
loss of form and injuries saw him drop out of the side, and Phil
Parkes' performances were good enough to keep Day out when he
regained fitness. A brief spell at Orient was followed by a move to
Villa where he acted as cover for Nigel Spink.
When Eddie Gray signed him in 1985, he proved to be an excellent
buy and was a key figure in Billy Bremner's side in the 1987 run to
the FA Cup semi-final and League play-offs. He remained first
choice keeper for Howard Wilkinson, and picked up a Division 2
winners medal as promotion was finally achieved in 1990. With the
re-signing of John Lukic Day was relegated to the reserves and
bench and only made 5 more appearances for the first team. One of
those I remember as being a particularly excellent and heroic
performance from him: it was the day of the infamous "4
centre-backs" defensive formation, the venue was Maine Road, and -
but for Merv's heroics - the scoreline would have been at least
twice as bad as the 0-4 hammering it was.
He moved on to Carlisle as player-coach in 1993, and is
currently coaching at Charlton.
Jeff Walker says: I have
been a fan since 1975 when I watched the FA cup final and when he
won the PFA young player of the year. Like to get a signed
photo.
Gary Holland says: As a boy Mervyn Day was my hero & the
reason I became a goalkeeper (against my family's wishes). What a
legend he was!!
Jon Penn says: He was not only an outstanding keeper in his day
but he is one of the nicest men in football. He is about the game
not the politics and i personally don't think he's ever got the
respect he should have as a player, manager and coach. Enough
respect.
ads says: lives down the bottom of my road and im mates with his
son james....top bloke very down to earth and always very polite.
VERY passionate about his work. Aslo got me a singed van nisterlooy
shirt for my 18th...top bloke
Swerve it Like Merv! says: Merv is the reason I support West
Ham. I'm a Taffy and, if some a**hole bothers me in The Boleyn, I
relate - at great and boring length - why Mervyn made me a Hammer!
Glad to hear he seems like a nice bloke. I wouldn't want to shatter
any illusions.
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