The
Goalkeeper's History of Britain, by Peter Chapman (1999)
THIS unusual and fascinating project offers a view of British history through the unique perspective of the man between the sticks.
Peter Chapman, himself a goalkeeper for Leyton Orient in his youth, links events in history to famous keepers. He argues convincingly that these netminders reflect the changing times: Gordon Banks symbolised stability, while the more flash Peter Bonetti hinted at a move to a fragmented Britain which was coming to terms with greater multiculturalism.
The "do or die" aspect of goalkeeping, whether to come off your line or not, is used as a metaphor for all of life's turning points. Most memorably, Chapman uses it to describe Manchester United keeper Harry Gregg's bravery in rescuing people from the burning wreckage of the plane in the 1958 Munich disaster. He "came off his line", did not hesitate, and saved some of his fellow players, Matt Busby and a mother and baby.
The author certainly has tales to tell. He was employed as a sales rep, which took him around the world, and his stories are intertwined with the histories of the keeper and of Britain. The most interesting pieces from a footballing point of view are those on the highly individual characters of Bert Trautmann (who famously played on in the 1956 Cup final with a broken neck), Pat Jennings and the "eccentric" Sepp Maier. The progression of the keeper throughout history comes full circle; Chapman notes that France '98 will not be remembered for its keepers' performances, unlike World Cups in the past which have produced moments like Banks' save from Pele.
And there is also the fact that many more foreign keepers are eroding the sense that Britain was, as Napoleon said (and was later misquoted, Chapman jokes) "a nation of goalkeepers". This is a diverse mixture of personal anecdotes and tales of legendary footballing moments - an individual book about an individual subject, and you finish it having learned a good deal about British character, the goalkeeper and the author himself.
Review by Sam Hawcroft