TOP GOALKEEPERS

George Payne
Born: 22 August 1921 Place: Liverpool, England
Position: Goalkeeper Years: 1946–1961 Appearances:467 International Caps: 0 
George Payne (22 August 1921 – 6 April 1987) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Tranmere Rovers and Northwich Victoria. He made 467 appearances for Tranmere.

Dick Johnson
Born: 20 February 1953 Place:  Liverpool, England
Position: Goalkeeper Years:1971–1982 Appearances: 355 International Caps: 0
He made 397 appearances for Tranmere keeping 109 clean sheets. He made his debut on 24 September 1971 at the age of 18 in a goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers and, on October 2, 1973, played in the Tranmere team which beat Arsenal 1–0 at Highbury in a second round League Cup tie. Johnson played his last game for Tranmere in a 2–2 draw against Mansfield Town on Boxing Day 1981; he was awarded a testimonial match for his service to Rovers in May 1982, in which he scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in a 1–1 draw against Everton.

Eric Nixon
Born: 4 October 1962 Place: Manchester, England
Position: Goalkeeper Years:1988–1997 & 1999–2003
Appearances: 346  International Caps: 0 
Nixon’s final loan move while at Manchester City came in March 1988, when he was sent to Tranmere Rovers, for whom he made eight league appearances. Nixon signed for Tranmere Rovers permanently for a fee of £60,000 on 26 July 1988. In nine years at Prenton Park Nixon made 432 appearances, including 333 league appearances, and was with the club during their rise from the Fourth Division to the First Division play-offs in 1992–93. In the 1988–89 season he kept 25 clean sheets, which still stands as a club record for the most clean sheets in a season. He was also a part of the Tranmere team that won the Leyland DAF Cup in 1989–90, beating Bristol Rovers 2–1 in the final at Wembley with goals by forwards Ian Muir and Jim Steel. In 1996, towards the end of his time at Tranmere, Nixon found himself again being sent out on loan three times. In January he joined Reading; the following month he was loaned to Blackpool, for whom he made 20 league appearances; and in September he spent a second loan spell at Bradford City, making twelve league appearances. On his return, he signed non-contract terms with Tranmere. On 8 August 2002, he again signed as a non-contract player with the club to provide cover for Keith Welch, who Tranmere had just signed. The 2002–03 season was his testimonial season and his testimonial match was played at Prenton Park on 6 August against the club he supported as a youngster, and for whom he first played professionally — Manchester City. He was also a part of the Tranmere team that won the Leyland DAF Cup in 1989–90, beating Bristol Rovers 2–1 in the final at Wembley with goals by forwards Ian Muir and Jim Steel. In 1996, towards the end of his time at Tranmere, Nixon found himself again being sent out on loan three times. In January he joined Reading; the following month he was loaned to Blackpool, for whom he made 20 league appearances; and in September he spent a second loan spell at Bradford City, making twelve league appearances. On his return, he signed non-contract terms with Tranmere. On 8 August 2002, he again signed as a non-contract player with the club to provide cover for Keith Welch, who Tranmere had just signed. The 2002–03 season was his testimonial season and his testimonial match was played at Prenton Park on 6 August against the club he supported as a youngster, and for whom he first played professionally — Manchester City. He was also a part of the Tranmere team that won the Leyland DAF Cup in 1989–90, beating Bristol Rovers 2–1 in the final at Wembley with goals by forwards Ian Muir and Jim Steel. In 1996, towards the end of his time at Tranmere, Nixon found himself again being sent out on loan three times. In January he joined Reading; the following month he was loaned to Blackpool, for whom he made 20 league appearances; and in September he spent a second loan spell at Bradford City, making twelve league appearances. On his return, he signed non-contract terms with Tranmere. On 8 August 2002, he again signed as a non-contract player with the club to provide cover for Keith Welch, who Tranmere had just signed. The 2002–03 season was his testimonial season and his testimonial match was played at Prenton Park on 6 August against the club he supported as a youngster, and for whom he first played professionally — Manchester City . When he played in goal against Crewe Alexandra on 21 September 2002, Nixon, at 39 years and 352 days old, became the oldest player to ever play for the club: his record was subsequently broken by Ian Goodison. Nixon’s final club was Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he signed on a free transfer on 1 July 2003, and where he was used as a goalkeeping coach, making one league appearance — on 27 September 2003 against Grimsby Town. His spell with the club was spent coaching three days a week, and spending two days back at Tranmere Rovers coaching.

Scott Davies
Born: 23rd February 1987 Place: Blackpool, England
Position: Goalkeeper Years:2015–2022 Appearances:265
International Caps:0

On 30 June 2015, Davies signed for newly relegated National League club Tranmere Rovers on a one-year contract.  After three years in this league, Davies and Tranmere were promoted to the EFL after a 2–1 win against Boreham Wood in 2018. Tranmere played 89 minutes with 10 men, after Liam Ridehalgh was dismissed for a dangerous tackle. After their first year back in the football league, Tranmere secured a spot at Wembley in the Playoff final after beating rivals Forest Green Rovers 2–1 on aggregate Davies won back to back promotions with Tranmere after beating Welsh side Newport County 1–0 in injury time. Davies was named as captain at the start of the 19/20 campaign after the departure of former captain Steve Mcnulty to York City. In October 2019 he signed a new contract with the club, until 2022. In January 2022 it was announced he would be retiring from professional football at the end of his contract. 

John Achterberg
Born: 8 July 1971  Place: Utrecht, Netherlands 
Position: Goalkeeper Years:1998–2009 Appearances:257
International Caps:0
Achterberg first signed for Tranmere Rovers in 1998, after a successful trial as a replacement for the Everton bound Steve Simonsen. He was immediately selected for the first team due to an injury to Danny Coyne, making his debut against Swindon Town on 25 September 1998. Achterberg then secured his place as Rovers’ first choice goalkeeper after Coyne was transferred to Grimsby Town in 1999. Achterberg became part of the giant-killing cup teams that defeated such opponents as Everton, Southampton and other big teams. Achterberg’s proficiency in goal was exemplified by the 20 clean sheets he kept during the 2003–04 season under the stewardship of Brian Little. One of his more memorable performances was against Millwall in an FA Cup quarter final at The New Den which was televised on BBC 1. The game finished goalless, but was largely dominated by Millwall and John managed to save a penalty kick from Kevin Muscat, despite having to play through injury. Achterberg’s 2005–06 season was less successful. After spending most of the season sidelined with injuries, he was replaced by Steve Wilson and Dino Seremet, who was on loan from Luton Town. Achterberg’s chances of re-establishing himself as Tranmere’s first choice goalkeeper in 2006–07 were hampered by the signing and good form of veteran journeyman Gavin Ward.  Later in the season, an injury to Ward gave Achterberg a chance, but a re-occurrence of his own injury problems saw him sit out the closing months of the season. Achterberg’s contract expired in May 2007 and he was released by Tranmere on 25 May. This resulted in uproar from many Tranmere fans, who believed that Achterberg deserved a testimonial match, despite him falling just short of the ten years’ service usually required to earn a testimonial at a club. On 31 May, however, he was given a two year coaching and player contract with Tranmere. Achterberg made his 300th Rovers appearance in the opening day game of the 2008–09 season against Swindon Town. Achterberg had his testimonial game in 2009 for Tranmere against an Everton XI. After retiring from playing/coaching in 2009 with Tranmere Rovers, Achterberg joined Liverpool FC in June 2009 as a goalkeeping coach of the reserve and academy goalkeepers before being promoted to first-team goalkeeping coach in summer 2011.

Arthur Briggs
Born: 27 May 1900  Place:  unknown Position: goalkeeper Years: 1924-1932  Appearances: 246 International Caps: 0 
Briggs (27 May 1900 – 12 March 1987) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Tranmere Rovers and Swindon Town. He made 246 appearances for Tranmere.

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