Lionel Perez the flamboyant Frenchman.......

When you think about Scunthorpe United goalkeepers from the past decade or so it is hard to remember any that really stick in the memory apart from the recently departed Joe Murphy. The likes of Mark Samways, Tim Clarke and Tommy Evans all did decent enough jobs for the club but were all nothing special.

However back in October 1999 a 32-year-old eccentric French keeper called Lionel Perez arrived on loan from Newcastle United to replace the young Tommy Evans in net and went on to add some real glamour and a touch of continental style in goal for a struggling Scunthorpe side.

He soon became a fan’s favourite despite only appearing 13 times for the Iron during his two-month loan spell between October and December 1999. His unorthodox look for a keeper with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his seeming inability to cut his hair or to shave, made him a hero with the Scunthorpe fans. But it not just his image that made him an Iron legend, it was his dominant performances in goal and also his madcap errors that made him unique.

Lionel Perez had a notable early career, starting at French club Bordeaux before a £200,000 transfer to England and the North East with Sunderland where he played 77 times. His last appearance came in the infamous 1998 Division One Play-off final against Charlton where he was to blame for the Addicks third goal which sent the game to extra-time. The Mackems went on to lose the game on penalties and Lionel made the switch to fierce rivals Newcastle United.  

The match that really sticks out when looking back on Perez’s short period at Glanford Park was his debut in the away victory against Burnley. The game was on Sky and top of the table Burnley were firm favourites having only dropped two points at home all season. But what they and the watching public did not expect was the Frenchman making his debut in-between the sticks for Scunthorpe to be on inspired form. The Iron came away with a famous win thanks to a brace from the legend that is Guy Ipoua but it was Perez who took all the plaudits that day in October.

Another game that lives in the memory was a 3-1 away victory over Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday 2^nd November 1999. With Perez on top goalkeeping form, goals from Chris Hope, Paul Harsley and Lee Hodges were enough to claim an excellent away win and stretch our unbeaten run to five games. Perez made a great save to prevent Neil Mustoe giving the home side the lead and kept out an Ian Ashbee effort in the second half. Cambridge were unable to break the resistance of Perez and the Iron secured the win in the 90^th minute through Lee Hodges. Perez impressed Cambridge enough in the game that when he was made available by Newcastle United, they were quick to snap up his services.

Saying goodbye to the fans !

His form went a bit array towards the end of his loan spell and he was leaking a large number of goals in front of a poor defence. He was recalled by Newcastle at the start of 2000 but failed to make an impact for the Geordies instead moving on a free transfer to another unfashionable looking side in Cambridge United where he had to take an incredible 95% pay cut! He became a hero during his time there, a result of his madcap performances in between the sticks. He was released by Cambridge in 2003 before joining Enfield and then Stevenage Borough in February 2003 where he became a first-team regular however after a career ending injury he joined the staff to became goalkeeper coach.

The 99/00 season was to end in relegation back to Division Three for Scunny but long after Perez had departed he is still remembered fondly by the Iron fans as the French goalkeeper that added some real allure to the club long before the glory days of Beagrie and co.

 

By Aidan McCartney @aidanmccartney