Everything you've ever wanted to know about
goalkeepers and a little bit more
9 August 2020
Another cheeky update that may be small but still packs a punch! Alongside some more goalkeeper quotes, there's a trio of keepers who had to scramble around before kick-off to find a suitable jersey that didn't clash with their opponent's shirts including England goalkeeper David James and Manchester United's Mark Bosnich. If that wasn't enough, there's also some more quirky coincidences including the collection of goalkeepers called Ross on Ross County's books, a few sporting masters and the Danish goalkeeper who built up one of the world's biggest manufacturers of footballs and invented the 32-panel ball.
Quirky Facts, Getting Shirty, Words of Wisdom
18 July 2020
Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and England goalkeeper Sam Hardy is rarely mentioned when people reel off their list of the game's finest custodians, so in an attempt to redress the balance, he becomes the latest goalie to be included in the Goalkeeping Greats section. The second update of the month also includes some more disastrous debuts and one quirky appearance from a 50-year-old veteran, a couple of sporting masters, a trio of keepers who dabbled with film and television and a collection of outfield players who were once again forced to take over from their goalkeeping colleagues.
Goalkeeping Greats, Quirky Facts, Goalkeeping Debuts, Emergency Measures
5 July 2020
As the football season drags on, threatening to turn into overkill, we thought it would be the perfect time for another update! We uncover the Indian goalkeeper who turned his hand to politics in 2019 but failed to get elected while pondering where Peter Shilton's nomination for 'Brexiteer of the Week' sits within his list of achievements. There's also some more goalscoring goalkeepers, including the keeper who decided he'd had enough in goal and moved outfield, some more quirky middle names and nicknames not to mention football dynasties, plus Tony Meola's mum body shaming him when explaining why he always ended up in goal as a kid plus Phil Parkes getting a lesson in etiquette from none other than Pele.
Goalscoring Goalkeepers, Getting Personal, Politically Speaking, Words of Wisdom
17 Jume 2020
To celebrate the resumption of the football season in England, we bring you an update that is ironically almost Premier League-free! Revel in the fortunes of the outfield players who had to deputize for their goalkeepers, marvel at the 16-year-old who made his debut for Dundee United in European competition having never watched his teammates play, look away in horror at the keepers who were hit for five on their first start and gasp in amazement at just how many goalkeepers appeeared in Sky's Dream Team. There's also another goalkeeping bookkeeper, the custodian arrested in Orlando and the former Everton and Blackburn Rovers stopper who joined the police force.
Quirky Facts, Goalkeeping Debuts, I Fought the Law, Emergency Measures
2 June 2020
The first update of the Summer includes the day Peter Mellor had to change his top in front of the Fulham faithful at Craven Cottage, the last Celtic goalkeeper to wear a hoped jersey and the day Libya's goalkeeper lined up with a huge number on the front of his shirt. There's also some more collapsing goalposts, including the day the posts almost blew away in a gale at Everton, and a quartet of goalkeepers that found the net at the other end of the field. To round things off, there are some more personal oddities, nicknames and family ties, including the West Ham fan who decided to honour his favourite keeper by changing his name via deed poll.
Getting Shirty, In the Net, Goalscoring Goalkeepers, Getting Personal
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
- "It's disappointing to be dropped from any team - even my mates' fantasy league team"
Robert Green - "I dreamt of playing for a club like Manchester United, and now here I am at Liverpool"
Sander Westerveld - "He had no chance of beating Schmeichel from there, but it was always worth a try"
Alan Parry - "If you're a goalkeeper, it doesn't matter what you save the ball with - if you keep it out, it's not a goal"
Mark Lawrenson - "Goalkeepers aren't born today until they're in their late twenties or thirties"
Kevin Keegan - "And Seaman, just like a falling oak, manages to change direction"
John Motson - "It was like deja vu all over again"
Shaka Hislop - "I still don't buy the idea that I'm a sex symbol"
Hope Solo - "Peter Schmeichel will be like a father figure to Kasper Schmeichel"
Jamie Redknapp - "Casper Ankegren's a bit of a Dracula-type keeper... doesn't like crosses"
Andy Ritchie - "I discovered it's not the gloves but what's in them that counts"
Neville Southall
