Mervyn Day (born Chelmsford, Essex, 26 June, 1955) is a former professional football goalkeeper.

Early and Private Life

He was educated at Kings Road Primary School,attended also by another famous West Ham player,Geoff Hurst, and King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford.

Playing career

He represented Essex Schools at all levels and was even picked for the England Schools squad six times, though he never got to see action. By the age of 15 the word had spread that there was a young man worth watching and Ipswich, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and West Ham United dispatched scouts to investigate. Ron Greenwood's West Ham United won the race and Day signed youth forms in July 1971.

In February 1973 he signed a professional contract with West Ham and on 29 August1973 he made his debut in a draw against Ipswich Town.Day became the first team goalkeeper soon after, and, in 1975, he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear in an FA Cup Final, aged 20 years old, in their FA Cup victory over Fulham. He was credited with the PFA Young Player of the Year Award that same season, to this day, the only goalkeeper to win the award. He was tipped as the next great England goalkeeper. In 1976 he appeared in the Cup Winners' Cup Final which West Ham lost 4-2 to Anderlecht in a sold out Heysel Stadium. However, 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.

In July 1979 he moved to Leyton Orient for £100,000, where he displaced John Jackson from between the posts.

When Eddie Gray, then manager of Leeds United, 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.

Management career

After retiring, he was manager of Carlisle United and lead them to promotion into Division Two in 1997, but left shortly after due to a falling out with the Chairman, Michael Knighton, who replaced Day as manager.He was first team coach to Alan Curbishley at Charlton Athletic for many years before he and Curbishley both left the club at the end of the 2005-06 season. On December 13 2006, he was again named as Curbishley's number two after the former was unveiled as the new West Ham manager but left the club at the same time as Curbishley in September 2008.

Awards