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

14 March 2026
Sepp Maier's 'Battle of the Sexes' against German tennis champ Helga Masthoff is just one of the snippets in the latest update. Alongside Maier's antics, there the injury to Luton Town's Keith Barber that had an impact on a teammate's wedding, the Rhyl goalkeeper who was forced to usher a cow from his penalty spot and the day Seamus McDonagh discovered the true cost of international football and the penny-pinching ways of the FAI. There's also some more Words of Wisdom and a couple of goalkeepers who were knocked out during matches - one by the opposition's goalpost, the other by the opposition's centre forward.

Quirky Facts, Quirky Injuries, In the Net, Words of Wisdom

19 February 2026
A post-Pancake Day update with no mention of a frying pan anywhere. Instead there's the keeper who saved a penalty on his one and only appearance for his club and the goalkeeper who let in five on his debut. There's also the goalkeeping legend whose mum wanted him to become a priest, the Yugoslavian who was arrested when he flew home for Christmas and the college student who found himself on the wrong side of the law following a scrap after the final whistle. There's also some more Words of Wisdom from some of your favourite - and maybe not so favourite - keepers.

Goalkeeping Debuts, Keepers of the Faith, I Fought the Law, Words of Wisdom

31 January 2026
A cheeky end of January treat with the second update of the month. Again it features the usual collection of trivia and oddities, including the Aldershot goalkeeper who retired at the age of 25 to become a musician, the French keeper who saved the same penalty three times and some more goalies who were crowned Player of the Year in their home country. There's also some more outfiled players being forced to go in goal for one reason or another and at the other end of the spectrum, a few more goalkeepers who found the net, one of who scored eight times while playing as an emergency striker.

Quirky Facts, Goalscoring Goalkeepers, Cultural Pursuits, Emergency Measures

12 January 2026
The first update of the year sees Spain's José Ángel Iribar and England's Jack Robinson join the pantheon of Goalkeeping Greats on the suggestion of two of our social media followers! On top of that, there’s the usual mix of pub-quiz-worthy trivia, including the day Pele bought a goalie, the keeper who was signed for a set of football kits, Uganda using all three goalkeepers at the AFCON and Paul Cooper’s Villa Park curse. There’s also some more Sporting Masters, the Icelandic goalkeeper who turned to crime and some Words of Wisdom from the likes of Bob Wilson and others. Enjoy!

Goalkeeping Greats, Quirky Facts, I Fought the Law, Words of Wisdom

29 December 2025
The last update of the year arrives just before Big Ben strikes twelve and includes the latest winners of the IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year, some quirky coincidences and a pair of goalkeepers who were hit for four on their debuts. There's also a collection of goalkeeping families, the keeper who put himself out of action reaching for something in his fridge and the goalie who was put out of action by a stray hockey ball. There's also the sad tale of the keeper who died after saving a penalty in the lower leagues of Belgian football.

Quirky Facts, Goalkeeping Debuts, Quirky Injuries, 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