Jim Furnell

Who is Jim Furnell?

James "Jim" Furnell was an English football player, who played as a goalkeeper.

Furnell started his career at his local club Burnley, signing at the age of 17. As third-choice keeper he only played twice in eight seasons at Turf Moor, before being signed by Liverpool in February 1962. Furnell immediately took the No. 1 jersey at Liverpool, playing all 13 of the club's remaining matches that seasons, as they won a Second Division title and promotion to the First Division. However, after breaking his finger in a training ground accident early in the 1962-63 season, he lost his place to Tommy Lawrence. He played two matches in 1963-64 before being sold to Arsenal for £15,000 in November 1963.

Furnell immediately slotted into the Arsenal first team, making his debut the day after he signed, on 23 November 1963 against Blackpool; the match finished 5-3 to Arsenal. Furnell went on to become the long-term successor to Jack Kelsey, playing as Arsenal's No. 1 for the next five seasons. Under manager Billy Wright, however, Arsenal struggled to make an impact in either the League or the Cups.