The beguiling story of one boy's dream to play in goal, that most British of positions, culminating in the moment when he faces the mighty Zico ... If the French are the flair in midfield, the Germans the attack from the inside channels, the Italians the cry-foul defence, then Britain is the goalkeeper: stand alone, the bastion of last resort, more solid than spectacular, part of the team - and yet not. And Britain's place in the world is epitomised by its goalkeepers: post war austerity is embodied in Bert Williams ...
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The beguiling story of one boy's dream to play in goal, that most British of positions, culminating in the moment when he faces the mighty Zico ... If the French are the flair in midfield, the Germans the attack from the inside channels, the Italians the cry-foul defence, then Britain is the goalkeeper: stand alone, the bastion of last resort, more solid than spectacular, part of the team - and yet not. And Britain's place in the world is epitomised by its goalkeepers: post war austerity is embodied in Bert Williams (Walsall and England), a wartime PT boy whose athleticism scarcely concealed a masochistic edge: he ended his training routine with a full-length dive on to concrete; the end of Empire abroad came as the army and politicians were being humiliated in Suez and the football team, despite the best efforts of Gill Merrick (Birmingham and England), were being humbled by the Hungarians at home; the thawing of the cold war is begun not over Cuban missiles but over Lev Yashin, the superb and widely admired Russian whose arrival for the world cup in 1966 changes the attitudes of a nation - the Reds cannot be all bad if they have such an exemplary keeper. And for Peter Chapman (Orient Schoolboys and one appearance in the World Eleven to face Brasil), like his father before him (Armed Forces), it is always the goalkeeper who is the indicator of national well-being. A genuine, touching story of a nation's affection for football's perennial underdog, of a childhood obsession and of a glorious footballing tradition from Kelsey to Jennings, Swift to Trautmann, Bonetti to Shilton that culminates - perhaps ends even - in the last truly British goalkeeper: David Seaman.
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Add this copy of The Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by HarperCollins (UK).
Add this copy of The Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $2.29, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by HarperCollins (UK).
Add this copy of The Goalkeepers History of Britain to cart. $13.72, very good condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2000 by Fourth Estate.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.
Add this copy of The Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $14.75, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2008 by Fourth Estate.
Add this copy of The Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $33.86, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by HarperCollins UK.
Add this copy of Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $37.29, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1999 by Fourth Estate Classic House.
Add this copy of The Goalkeeper's History of Britain to cart. $40.33, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Fourth Estate.
