Corrigan receives MBE in New Years Honours list | OneFootball

Legendary City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan has received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Charitable Fundraising.

Corrigan played for City 603 times between 1967 and 1983 with only Alan Oakes representing us on more occasions throughout our history.

Affectionately known as ‘Big Joe’ due to his imposing frame, Corrigan also went on to earn international recognition – playing nine times for England between 1976 and 1982.

Since retiring, he has been a goalkeeping coach with Liverpool, Chester, Stockport County, West Brom and Hull City before taking up an official ambassadorial role with the club at which he made his name.

The 76-year-old also continues to represent the club as Chairman of the Manchester City Former Players’ Association, which brings together former Blues from across the years and raises funds by organising annual End of Season Dinners, Golf Days and other events.

He also remains a City ambassador and fan, regularly attending matches at the Etihad Stadium and is still a favourite amongst fans who were lucky enough to see him wear our iconic green ‘keeper’s top of his era.

An MBE is awarded for achievement or service in and to the community which is outstanding in its field and has delivered sustained and real impact which stands out as an example to others.

That stands testament to Corrigan’s influence at City and in football for almost 60 years.

First spotted by the club as a youngster playing in the parks of Sale, Corrigan made his senior debut at City in 1967.

Still only 18, he was made first choice at the start of the 1969/70 season and didn’t look back.

He featured 51 times in a momentous maiden campaign that saw the City side assembled by Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison lift the League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.

A difficult period followed as Mercer and Allison’s great team started to go their separate ways and City slipped down the table.

The appointment of Tony Book, who had been our great captain during the league and cup successes of the late 60s, revitalised the club and Corrigan.

We won the League Cup again in 1976 before finishing one point off winners Liverpool in the 1976/77 First Division title race.

That 1976 triumph would prove to be Corrigan’s final major honour, but our man was named Man of the Match in the 1981 FA Cup final. The 1-1 scoreline meant a replay that Spurs clinched late on.

The emergence of Alex Williams – who has also since received an MBE - signalled the end of Corrigan’s time as undisputed first choice, so he moved on to play for Seattle Sounders, Brighton, Norwich and Stoke before hanging up his boots in 1985.

Speaking in 2020, Big Joe was typically humble about his astonishing longevity at the top level and the connection he built with our fans.

“I was just doing my job. From the first day I can remember I always wanted to be a goalkeeper,” Big Joe surmises.

“I had some great teachers and played against and with so many true legends of the game, and I don’t use that word lightly.

“If anyone asks me if I would have liked to play today, I say ‘No, I had a fabulous career, I met some great people and a few villains! But I would not change my career for all of the tea in China.’”

Everyone at Manchester City is exceptionally proud of Joe and congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition.