The Cushiest Role In Football? The Anatomy of A Third String Goalkeeper

In his first piece for The False Nine, Lee Warner looks at the role of the third choice goalkeeper…

According to the age-old maxim, you have to be a little bit mad to be a goalkeeper. If that’s true, then by definition you have to be even madder to be a second goalkeeper.

The life of the backup keeper has often yielded great attention and fascination. They must be ready to fill in at any point, but know that their role at a club is primarily subservient to another man. Rarely will a reserve keeper depose a cemented first teamer through his own doing, instead he must wait for a slip up. It’s a muddy mentality in the game of football, and a strange position to be in.

Ask Manchester United fans what they think of former stalwart back up goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw, and the majority will smother him with appraisal. He knew his role, performed well when called upon, and never complained. He was according to many, the model reserve goalkeeper. Continue reading