In Big Joe's Safe Hands

Manchester City’s Joe Corrigan is a unique player. One of a select band of players who represented the club over three decades from 1967-83. The man now affectionally as “Big Joe” was a loyal servant to the team from the blue side of Manchester. With Corrigan as the last line of defence City fans knew that things were safe in Big Joe’s safe hands.

Corrigan made his full debut for City in the 1967 League Cup tie against Blackpool. No-one at the time would have imagined that they young keeper would spend 16 years at the club. They also could never have imagined he would in the process amass over 600 appearances either. Big Joe was Manchester City.

He first established himself during the 1969-70 season as City’s No.1 winning the League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup along the way. Corrigans performance in the Cup Winners Cup Final in the pouring rain against Polish side Gornik Zabrze earned him rave reviews. Throughout his entire City career he would play in the First Division.

Far From Plain Sailing

However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for Corrigan at City. During the 1973-74 season Corrigan’s City future was all but certain. That was the season that City used three keepers and had two different managers. City were in turmoil with seemingly no direction both on and off the pitch.

Corrigan who was always heavily built for a keeper struggled with his weight and confidence during the early 70’s. Fans were also beginning to voice their dismay at his inconsistent performances. It was a tough time for “Big” Joe.

The discontent went further when teammates also started to voice their opinions on Corrigan and his weight issues. Most notable captain Mike Doyle who’s outbursts became more vocal week on week.

“What’s that fat bastard doing still in the team?”

Mike Doyle

Manager Ron Saunders who took over from Johnny Hart was also less than convinced with Corrigan. Saunders paid a British record fee for a keeper when he signed Motherwell’s Keith MacRae, who also failed to live up to expectations.

In Big Joe’s Safe Hands

Now playing for the reserves Corrigan got himself fit. He lost the excess weight and as a result his performances and confidence returned. It wasn’t long before he had regained his No.1 spot in the team. England also came knocking in 1974 when Corrigan made his England debut against Italy coming on as a 2nd half substitute. If it wasn’t for Clemence and Shilton he would almost certainly earned more than the 9 caps he did for England.

Corrigan’s turnaround was complete when he was voted supporters’ Player of the Year at the end of the 1975-76 season. A campaign that had seen the big goalkeeper win another League Cup medal at the expense of Newcastle United.

The following season he was part of the team that pushed Liverpool all the way in the League losing out by just 1 point.

FA Cup Dismay

Despite all of the trials and tribulations, there was so nearly a glorious finale towards the end of Joe’s City days. The 1981 FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

However, fate on this occasion conspired against Joe and his City teammates.

With Corrigan being named man of the match, only a freak Tommy Hutchison own goal deprived City victory on the Saturday. An exhilarating final finishing 1-1 after extra time.

John Bond’s men then led 2-1 in the subsequent replay five days later only. It looked odds-on that City would end victorious. Only for Spurs to score twice in the last 20 minutes to claim the silverware. Corrigan was once again named man-of-the-match.

Hanging up the Gloves

Time was now running out on Corrigan’s City career. In 1983 he was sold to Seattle Sounders in the US for £30,000 where he made just 29 appearances. Next on the Corrigan roadshow was Brighton where he made 42 appearances before short loans at Norwich and Stoke.

However, it was Manchester City where Corrigan’s name will also be mentioned with affection. He is remembered as one of Manchester City’s best goalkeepers along with Frank Swift and Bert Trautmann.

In big Joe’s safe hands Manchester City were a team that should have probably achieved more than they did. All told he made an impressive 686 appearances spanning an 18 year career.