Everything you've ever wanted to know about
goalkeepers and a little bit more

21 March 2025
A few weeks ago the question was asked on Social Media as to who people think was missing from the Goalkeeping Greats section. Naturally, this sparked a lot of suggestions and discussion. Not every nominee could be included but following this ad hoc poll three new names have been added to the pantheon of greats. Two were nominated, one was already in mind. They may be contentious inclusions, but hopefully the arguments for why thy have been added will soothe the anger felt by some!

Goalkeeping Greats

23 February 2025
You would have got good odds on Everton midfielder Kevin Ratcliffe keeping a clean sheet in a game that featured his Welsh teammates Eddie Niedzwiecki and Neville Southall but it happened back in 1985. It's just one of the fascinating titbits in this month's update that also includes Olivier Giroud's stint in goal, the only goalkeeper ever to win a major trophy in England as a manager, the West Ham keeper who broke a mirror before a game then conceded six, some more nicknames and quirky middle names plus Kevin Keelan's views on wearing tights to protect his knees against the elements.

Quirky Facts, Getting Personal,Emergency Measures, Words of Wisdom

24 January 2025
To celebrate the New Year, there's a brand section on the site - Cultural Pursuits - detailing the attempts of the finest and not so finest goalkeepers in the history to achieve glory in the fields of literature, pop music, and film & television (okay, okay, we've just moved those sections from Quirky Facts into a page of their right)! Never fear, this month's update includes Willie McFaul's appearance on a popular kids show, the goalkeeper hit by a bucket during a derby clash, Tamworth's netting coming loose before their FA Cup clash with Spurs and the Indie Thrash Metal band that named themselves after a Hull City goalkeeper...

Quirky Facts, Quirky Injuries, In the Net, Cultural Pursuits

29 December 2024
The final update of the year is a typical smorgasbord of fabulous treats and includes the Swedish goalkeeper who made the odd appearance on film and television, David Icke being namechecked in a 1988 classic song and the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper who delayed a penalty by accidentally knocking his crossbar out of its fixings while jumping up and down to put his opponent off. There's also some more keepers that excelled at a second sport, goalies that were part of a greater sporting family and some more keepers that found the back of the net, including Glentoran's Daniel Gyollai.

Quirky Facts, In the Net, Goalscoring Goalkeepers, Getting Personal

24 November 2024
This month's update focuses on some more of those outfield players who were called upon in a emergency to don the gloves and keep goal, with varying degrees of success. There's also some more goalkeeper-related quotes to keep you entertained, including a corker from Jack Charlton, a few shirty tales featuring Italian keeper Gianluca Pagliuca's demands for a Tottenham Hotspur kit and the Bearsted goalkeeper who became an internet sensation when he saved despite getting his studs stuck in the back of his net.

Getting Shirty, In the Net, Emergency Measures, Words of Wisdom

Goalkeepersaredifferent.com came to life in the summer of 1999. A treasure trove of goalkeeper facts, trivia and a whole lot more, it has kept football fans and goalkeepers alike amused and entertained with its collection of goalie titbits ever since. But don't just take our word for it...

"Educational and charming" - Oliver Kahn

"Excellent and well-written" - When Saturday Comes

"Excellent" - Guardian Unlimited

"Goalkeepers are the drummers of football... Great quirky facts, a great website" - Website Wasteland, The Gideon Coe Show, BBC Radio6 Music