List of outfield association footballers who played in goal

A relatively small number of outfield association footballers have played in goal during a match, usually due to the injury, dismissal or other unavailability of the usual goalkeeper.

List of players DateNameTeamTime played (incl. stoppage time)DetailsAlexander BonsorEngland15 minutesEngland goalkeeper William Carr arrived late for a friendly match against Scotland due to a train delay. Bonsor, a forward, played in goal for the opening 15 minutes of the match, in which England began with only 10 men, and kept a clean sheet.John McPhersonRangersRegular goalkeeper Matthew Dickie was injured and veteran international forward McPherson went in goal in a 1901–02 Scottish Division One fixture against St Mirren that Rangers had to win to claim the title, which they did by a 3–2 score.Hall Of Fame: John McPherson, Rangers FC, 6 April 2020 (archived version)3-2 Vs St Mirren in Scottish League (18/01/1902) , Rangers FitbaStatsRobert BartonKilmarnock45 minutesDue to fog, four Kilmarnock players were unable to make it to Port Glasgow in time for their match against Port Glasgow Athletic in January 1908, even after the referee had delayed kick-off by 25 minutes. With just seven players and no recognised goalkeeper, Bill Shaw was placed between the sticks in the first half before Robert Barton took over in the second half. Despite the disadvantage, Kilmarnock only lost 4–1 as they set a record for the smallest number of players to start and finish a first class match.Bill ShawJohn KingNewcastle UnitedFull matchRegular goalkeeper Bill Mellor was injured pre-match and forward King went in goal for the entirety of a 1914–15 Football League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw.Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 0 Newcastle United , Toon1892James McAlpineQueen's ParkLeading 2–0 at Hampden Park against Hibernian, McAlpine (scorer of both goals, who had also gone in goal on previous occasions) replaced regular goalkeeper William Gould who had been injured, and kept a clean sheet for the short-handed team (no substitutes being allowed at the time).People: James Barbour McAlpine , QPF.com0-2 Vs Queen's Park in Scottish League (11/12/1920) , FitbaStats HibernianBobby TempletonHibernianDefender Templeton took over as Hibs' manager in 1925, still occasionally playing in emergencies. At least two of these occasions were as goalkeeper, losing 4–3 to Partick Thistle in his first seasonThistle's Last Minute Goal , The Sunday Post, 20 September 1925, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club but playing his part in a 3–2 win over Celtic in his second.Hibernians' Fine Win , The Scotsman, 3 February 1927, scan via London Hearts Supporters ClubCharlie McCormackHamilton AcademicalIn a Scottish League match against champions-elect Rangers at Douglas Park, Hamilton goalkeeper Alex Binnie suffered a broken leg and defender McCormack took over. His team were awarded a penalty, which he scored, and the opposition then missed a penalty of their own. Rangers eventually equalised, but McCormack made several saves and the Accies held out for a draw.Rangers Drop A Point. , The Scotsman, 18 April 1927, via London Hearts Supporters ClubMcCormack, Charlie (1924) , Hamilton Academical Memory BankJack BallEngland45 minutes+Ball, a forward, played in goal for the second half of the 1927–28 British Home Championship match against the IFA national team, conceding one goal. He replaced goalkeeper Ted Hufton, who had broken his arm in the 20th minute but continued playing until he was taken to the hospital at half-time.LuisinhoSão PauloAfter a tragic injury to goalkeeper Nestor, who had to end his career, Luisinho ended the match against Palestra Itália (Palmeiras) as goalkeeper. With São Paulo having 2 players sent off, they ended up conceding the goal of the 3–2 defeatEddie HapgoodArsenalAt Bramall Lane against Sheffield United, Hapgood replaced regular goalkeeper, Frank Moss, who had dislocated his fingers.Against Everton at Goodison Park, Hapgood again replaced Moss after the latter had injured his shoulder. After treatment, Moss returned to the pitch as an outfield player and scored in a 2–0 win.Willie BuchanCelticCeltic were already 4–0 down to Motherwell at Fir Park when goalkeeper Joe Kennaway had to come off. Forward Buchan (scorer of the winning goal in the 1937 Scottish Cup final a week earlier) took over, conceding four more goals, all to Alex Stewart, whose total haul was six; the 8–0 result is Celtic's all-time record defeat.Stewart Scores Six Goals | Weakened Celtic Routed at Motherwell , The Glasgow Herald, 1 May 1937 via The Celtic WikiCozinheiroSão PauloEnded the match against São Paulo Railway as a goalkeeper, after King was sent off.Jacinto QuincocesReal MadridOn 1 December 1940, during El Clásico match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Camp de Les Corts, Spanish defender Jacinto Quincoces was forced to take over as goalkeeper in the 77th minute after the team's regular keeper, Enrique Esquiva, suffered a back injury following a collision with both Quincoces and Barcelona forward Julián Vergara. With no substitutions allowed at the time, Quincoces stepped into goal for the remainder of the match. Despite being a central defender, he made two notable saves, preventing further goals. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for Barcelona."Barcelona, 3 – Madrid, 0." La Vanguardia Española, 2 December 1940, p. 3. Historical Press Archive of Spain. Retrieved 5 August 2025.Neil McBainNew BrightonFull matchAn injury crisis left New Brighton manager McBain without a goalkeeper against Hartlepool United so the 51-year old, a half-back in his playing days, selected himself, setting a record for the oldest player in the English Football League; New Brighton lost 3–0.RuiSão PauloAfter injury to goalkeeper Gijo, Rui had the inglorious mission to go to the goal. It ended up taking 4 goals from Corinthians, which was one of the biggest defeats suffered by São Paulo in Majestoso.Alfredo Di StéfanoRiver Plate Di Stéfano played in the role of goalkeeper replacing the owner Amadeo Carrizo for a few minutes and keeping the clean sheet in a derby won against Boca Juniors.Jackie BlanchflowerManchester UnitedBlanchflower covered in goal in the 1957 FA Cup Final while Ray Wood received treatment for an injury suffered in a collision with Peter McParland, who scored both of Aston Villa's goals as United lost 2–1.Alex WrightPartick ThistleIn the semi-final of the 1958–59 Scottish League Cup against holders Celtic, goalkeeper Tom Ledgerwood injured an arm early in the second half and Wright took over. He did not concede a goal until the 88th minute and Partick Thistle won 2–1 to reach the final.Bobby ShearerRangersDefender Shearer deputised as goalkeeper (at least) twice, both times against Hearts at Tynecastle Park, first taking over from Norrie Martin in a League Cup fixture in 1958 which Hearts won 2–1,Neil 'Norrie' Martin , The Scotsman, 23 October 2013 (via PressReader)Sat 23 Aug 1958, Hearts 2 Rangers 1 , London Hearts Supporters Club and later in place of the injured Billy Ritchie for 82 minutes of a 3–1 Rangers victory in 1960.Wed 26 Oct 1960, Hearts 1 Rangers 3 , London Hearts Supporters ClubAlex DawsonManchester UnitedCentre-forward Dawson swapped places with an injured Harry Gregg in goal in the first-half against champions-elect Tottenham Hotspur and became one of only two players to keep a clean sheet against Spurs that season, whilst Gregg managed to claim an assist with a backheeled pass to Mark Pearson at the other end.Martin PetersWest Ham UnitedIn only his third game for West Ham, Peters went in goal in an away game with Cardiff City after regular goalkeeper Brian Rhodes was injured.Willie WallaceHeart of Midlothian78 minutes+With 12 minutes gone and no score, Hearts goalkeeper Gordon Marshall was seriously injured and carried off; forward Wallace took over. Playing against 10 men and a stand-in keeper, St Mirren won 7–3 with Don Kerrigan's four goals and Bobby Carroll's hat trick.Tue 02 Apr 1963, St Mirren 7 Hearts 3 , London Hearts Supporters ClubPeléSantosIn the second leg of the semi-finals of the 1963 Taça Brasil, Santos defeated Grêmio 4–3. After scoring a hat trick, Pelé successfully defended the Santos goal after goalkeeper Gilmar was dismissed.Gerd MüllerBayern MunichAfter scoring the second goal of the match against Hamburger SV (which finished as a 4–0 win), Gerd Müller temporarily played in goal and did not concede while Sepp Maier was treated for a knee injury.David WebbChelseaPeter Bonetti picked up an injury against Coventry City and defender David Webb took his place in goal. Webb performed so well that with reserve goalkeepers John Phillips and Steve Sherwood unavailable – Phillips was injured and Sherwood was stuck in traffic on the M1 – he started the next game and went on to keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Ipswich Town.Bobby MooreWest Ham UnitedEngland's World Cup-winning captain stood in goal following an injury to Bobby Ferguson in the League Cup semi-finals, and saved a penalty from Mike Bernard, though Bernard scored from the resulting rebound and Stoke City went on to win the game and reach the final.Kenny HibbittWolverhampton WanderersMidfielder Kenny Hibbitt took over in goal from keeper Paul Bradshaw when Wolves played Tottenham Hotspur in a First Division match in November 1978. Spurs won 1–0.Glenn HoddleTottenham HotspurHoddle played in goal for Spurs three times and remained unbeaten in all three games. Perhaps the most notable of these fixtures was against Manchester United away in a FA Cup 5th round replay, where he kept a clean sheet into extra-time, before Osvaldo Ardiles won the game for Spurs.Steve LynexLeicester CityMark Wallington was taken off midway through an FA Cup quarter-final with Shrewsbury Town following a challenge from Chic Bates. Young stepped in goal but was himself knocked unconscious after a collision with Bernard McNally and so Lynex went in goal whilst Young recovered his senses on the sidelines. Young went back in goal and Leicester won the game 5–2.Alan YoungAlain GiresseBordeaux60 minutes+Club president Claude Bez decided to protest against the French Football Federation for issuing a one-year ban on regular goalkeeper Dragan Pantelić for kicking a linesman, so he put Giresse in goal for the final league game of the season against Nantes. As part of the protest, Giresse was not actually named as a goalkeeper, so he was not permitted to use his hands. He conceded five goals in the opening sixty minutes before being replaced by Marius Trésor.Marius Trésor30 minutes+Paul HegartyDundee UnitedDuring a league match away to Morton, United goalkeeper Hamish McAlpine suffered a hip injury. He carried on playing until United were 3–0 ahead, when he was replaced in goal by defender Hegarty. United went on to win 4–0 and won the league championship that season.Sandy JardineHeart of Midlothian31 minutes+Info on added stoppage time, if any, is not currently known.In a league match away to St Mirren, Hearts goalkeeper Henry Smith slipped and injured himself prior to the match, but decided to play and lasted until the 59th minute, when veteran defender Jardine had to take over with Hearts already behind; St Mirren won 5–2.Sandy: The Authorised Biography of Sandy Jardine , , 2016Sat 11 May 1985, St Mirren 5 Hearts 2 , London Hearts Supporters ClubChris HedworthNewcastle UnitedWith regular number one Martin Thomas leaving the pitch injured, both Chris Hedworth and Peter Beardsley played in goal at West Ham United. Hedworth conceded one before he himself had to leave the pitch injured, with Beardsley then donning the gloves. Thomas, Hedworth and Beardsley conceded one goal each to Alvin Martin, though West Ham scored another five to make the final score 8–1.Peter BeardsleyPaul HaylockGillinghamHaylock took over in goal when Phil Kite was sent off during the first half of a League Cup tie. He saved a penalty during the penalty shoot-out.Graham Roberts