Blast from the Past: Former Walsall goalkeeper Mick Kearns transcends the pitch

But when it comes to shot-stopping greats, few can match the achievements of club favourite Mick Kearns, who is still entertaining Saddlers fans today,

The former Republic of Ireland international celebrated his 66th birthday on Saturday and marked the occasion by providing commentary of Walsall's game with Southend on the club's official website.

But while he is now a popular figure in broadcasting, standing between the sticks at Fellows Park is where Kearns made his name.

Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, he began with his home-town club before jumping into his Volkswagen Beetle in July 1973 to join the Saddlers. Between August 1973 and January 1979, Walsall played 293 competitive fixtures with Kearns missing just five.

So it came as a huge surprise to fans when Wolves poached him to play second fiddle to Paul Bradshaw. Kearns didn't quite build up the same rapport at Molineux he had with fans at Fellows Park. So in 1982 he returned to Walsall and played alongside his brother Ollie.

Kearns hung up his gloves in 1985. But in 1989 he began what he believes is his greatest work.

Walsall were among the first clubs to establish a community programme and he was asked by then chairman Barry Blower to set it up. Now the programme employs more than 20 staff members and runs a multitude of schemes.

"Forget about my football career – I'm more proud of the success of the community programme," Kearns told the Express & Star.

"The community role was so diverse. It was helping improve someone's life. That is a success."

Kearns, who has also been Walsall's goalkeeping coach, retired from the community team in 2013.

But he is still a familiar face at the Banks's Stadium as a match-day host.