Goalkeepers' Union

A tale of two narratives in this week's Between the Sticks. One is relatively non-existent in the case of Bernd Leno, and that's simply because the German is going about his business in West London - just like he has done in the 126 consecutive appearances made for the club since he signed in the summer of 2022. The other surrounds Tottenham stopper, Guglielmo Vicario. Despite an xGA of 2.3, it seems fans and pundits alike are losing patience with the Italian, who conceded three at the hands of Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Fair judgement? We discuss. In the EFL, Carl Rushworth is making waves on what is his sixth loan away from Brighton (a club he's still yet to make a competitive outing for) and Sol Brynn's sounds the Goalkeeper Assist klaxon for his part in Middlesbrough's comfortable 3-1 victory over QPR. Finally, a shout out to Shamal George for grabbing a Scottish League Cup Winners medal after St Mirren - a club he's on loan to from Wycombe - defied the odds to beat Celtic at Hampden Park.

With Richard Lee on his 2025-26 rotation, the vastly-experienced David Rouse steps in to fill the void this week. In the Premier League, Emi Martinez was up to his customary tricks with a match-winning save in the class between Aston Villa and Wolves, Guglielmo Vicario felt the wrath of Tottenham fans when giving the ball away for what turned out to be the winner, and we delve into the goalkeeper celebration debate. Good thing? Bad thing? Or none of the above? Joe Murphy dominated headlines in the EFL thanks to his star showing in Tranmere's win at grimsby. The Irishman is now 44 and looks just as agile as he did 20 years ago, prompting a look back at top-flight veterans of yesteryear.

This week's show is kicked off with three interference-based incidents: Murillo's opener for Nottingham Forest at Liverpool Eberechi Eze's first in a North London Derby hat-trick Virgil van Dijk's disallowed header prior to the international break at Man City Was vision obstructed for Alisson, Guglielmo Vicario and Gianluigi Donnarumma respectively or should all three goals have been given? Over in the EFL, the old guard take centre stage. Asmir Begovic, Ben Hamer (Championship), Sam Walker (League One) and Richard O'Donnell (on loan in League Two) continue to roll back the years and provide further proof that, providing you still have the drive, a career in goalkeeping can persist well into your twilight years.

Welcome Andy Marshall. A new voice arrives on Between the Sticks this week in the form of the ex-Millwall, Charlton and Birmingham Goalkeeper Coach. Marshy, who decided to step away from the grass in the summer, will join up throughout the campaign to offer his expert insight on all things goalkeeping and the weekend's main talking points. For this episode, we discuss a week of heroics from Guglielmo Vicario, a potential signing of the season in Martin Dubravka and a tale of two corners in the game between Everton and Tottenham. Over in the EFL, Blackburn's Balasz Toth, Leyton Orient's Killian Cahill and Jojo Wollacott of Crawley are singled out for praise.

With more than 70 moves occurring across all four tiers of the professional English pyramid over the summer, it was about time we cast our eyes over all the big transfer talking points. From James Trafford to Will Brook, this is a GKs On Their Way special interspersed with a smattering of the top goalkeeping action from the weekend.

What better way to kick off a new season (and a long-awaited return to Between the Sticks) than with two goalless draws? The ideal result at GKU Towers was witnessed at Selhurst Park and the Hill Dickinson Stadium (not sure that'll ever sound right) as four stoppers - including Premier League newcomer, Robin Roefs - made their way into Clean Sheet Club this weekend. Joining Roefs on that list is fellow Prem newbie, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a lightning start to life at Man City, plus now established Prem No1 David Raya - the Spaniard racking up his 100th appearance for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest. In the EFL, Lawrence Vigouroux returned in fine fettle from his international bow with Chile, Liam Roberts sounded the first klaxon of the campaign and Cieran Slicker saved two penalties as Barnet came from behind to win at Crewe.

Yep, you read that right. Peter Shilton. C. B. E. Fresh from the release of his completely free, 14-part "Shilton's Secrets" program, England's record cap holder invited GKU into his home to primarily discuss why he thinks goalkeeper coaching needs a bit of a revamp. Naturally, we do also briefly touch on his 31-year career. Shilts talks us through designing his own goalkeeper apparel, that semi-final at Italia '90 and just how one manages to play 1,3 professional games. A true gent and legend of the position. To find out more on Shilton's Secrets, visit Peter's Twitter handle @peter_shilton.

We're often asked how much longer we can continue to interview goalkeepers for. How can you think up new topics? How can you keep it fresh? Doesn't every interview become the same after a while? Is the aim to have every goalkeeper to have ever played on the Goalkeepers' Union Podcast? Granted, that last question might be a bit of a stretch. The others, however, are all part and parcel of what makes each chat with each goalkeeper that little bit unique. Finding that one aspect of the story that somehow hasn't yet been told on previous episodes. For Jayson Leutwiler, it was reflecting on his career just weeks after announcing his retirement from professional football - a first for the podcast. Here, from his home in the North West of England, we discuss the Canadian's processes leading up to the decision, how he felt afterwards and what life has in store post-goalkeeping. One of the most pleasant guys to have appeared on the pod.

FA Cup Semi-Final weekend sees the focus on Dean Henderson and Matz Sels in this episode of Between the Sticks. The former making a bog stop in Crystal Palace's win over Aston Villa. The latter called out for not coming for a corner which all but ended Nottingham Forest's hope of a dream day out as Man City booked their place in a third successive final. In the EFL, three goalkeepers bagged their first clean sheet of the season on the penultimate day. For George Evans and Toby Steward it was a full opening of a professional account at Millwall and Crawley respectively, while Michael Kelly helped Accrington survive another season in League Two. Congrats to James Trafford, Sam Tickle and Owen Goodman who all made Teams of the Season. And a nod to Chris Maxwell, who following doctor's advice has decided to call time on his goalkeeping career.

Not often do you hear of a goalkeeper going from the Premier League to Tier 9 in the space of a few short years - only to gradually make his way back into the throes of a League One promotion race at the age of 37. Ben Hinchliffe (that's Hinch-liffe, not Hinch-cliffe) is a straight-talking stopper with a whopper of a story to tell - from driving trucks part-time to dislodging every aspiring goalkeeper brought in by Stockport to replace him. Now, as he currently sits on the sidelines with the first lengthy injury of his career, the Prestonian is eyeing a 400th appearances for his beloved County - plus a heck of a lot more if he has his way. Proper goalkeeper.

Very rarely does a goalkeeper make four assists across an entire career. Ederson has achieved it this season alone. The Brazilian racked up his goal-providing quad in Man City's 5-2 win over Crystal Palace, marking this as the most successful-ever season for assists from goalkeepers in a single Premier League campaign. Fellow Brazilian Alisson returned for Liverpool to remind everyone why he's the best in the world in a 2-1 triumph of West Ham, while all manner of questions continue to be raised over the goalkeeping dilemma facing Manchester United. In the EFL, pro debuts were made by Luke Hutchinson (Crawley, on loan from Bolton) and Taite Holtam (Gillingham), Sam Tickle reached 100 career appearances at Wigan and Luke McGee played a huge role in Tranmere's remarkable comeback in a League Two basement battle at Accrington.

Richard Lee returns to the fold to talk about the steadiness of Bernd Leno as a Premier League goalkeeper, the bit-between-his-teethness of Dean Henderson and 100 in succession for Jordan Pickford. In the Championship, Karl Darlow was finally given the nod ahead of Illan Meslier as Leeds were held at Luton, while Max Crocombe was the subject of a dubious penalty awarded to Wrexham and Wyll Stanway bagged an MOM in a rare start for Barrow. A nod to Andy Fisher and Rohan Luthra, too, as both excelled on loans at St Johnstone and Spennymoor respectively.

Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic makes his return to the GKU starting lineup to talk all things The Toffees, FA Cup Quarter Finals and goalkeeping goodness from the EFL. We touch on his close relationship with Jordan Pickford, what the immediate future holds for Illan Meslier at Leeds and teammate Harry Tyrer's loan spell with Blackpool.

Father and son goalkeepers. How many can you name? Let us know any who pop out via all the usual channels. In addition to that, plenty of goalkeeping analysis to dive into this week. Joe Hart and Shay Given both stood up for stoppers as they ran the rule over performances from Dean Henderson, Ederson and David Raya against Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United respectively. Meanwhile, Robert Sanchez returned for Chelsea, Robin Olsen kept his first Premier League clean sheet since New Year's Day of 2023 and Kepa committed the cardinal sin of conceding one of "those" penalties. In the EFL, Save of the Weekend contenders go to George Wickens, Jay Lynch and Paul Farman.

So, the eight-second ruling as imposed on goalkeepers by IFAB is due to finally come into effect as of next season. Following yet another trial during the Club World Cup over the summer, it's possible referees will award corners to opposing teams should goalkeepers fail to release the ball after eight seconds. Let's see how it plays out. Meanwhile, penalty shootouts took centre stage in the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the weekend. Bernd Leno the hero for Fulham at Manchester United. Will Jaaskelainen saved three and scored the decisive spot-kick for Woking in their quarter-final tie at Oxford City. On the flip side of heroism, Liam Roberts was very much seen as the villain after seeing red for his challenge on Jean-Phillipe Mateta in Millwall's defeat to Crystal Palace. We discuss the incident and comments made by Palace Chairman, Steve Parish, after the game.

It's fair to say the narrative surrounding Chelsea goalkeepers has not been particularly positive in recent seasons. Aston Villa's winner in their defeat of The Blues won't have helped that cause as Filip Jorgensen allowed Marco Asensio's effort to squirm under his body at the weekend. We discuss that moment, in addition to the art of combating the "dinker". Aaron Ramsdale was twice beaten by deft finishes in Southampton's 4-0 loss to Brighton, so is it purely down to unbeatable striking excellence - or is there a way to thwart those pesky frontmen in such a scenario? In the EFL, Illan Meslier made headlines yet again for his part in a monumental Leeds triumph over Sheffield United, Jamie Jones and Filip Marschall share the Save of the Weekend contender spoils, and 'Keeper Capers stars Nick Townsend and Ryan Boot of Newport and Chesterfield respectively.

It may not have been a particularly busy transfer window for goalkeepers in the Premier League, but there was still one big move for one English stopper. Alex Palmer earned a shot at the top flight following his move from West Brom to Ipswich. He started Tier 1 life in fine fashion with a Man of the Match performance on his debut at Aston Villa. An incredible four klaxons were sounded overall at the weekend. Ederson (a record-breaking sixth in total) was joined by Bart Verbruggen, Mark Howard and Joe Day, while James Trafford racked up an 11th successive clean sheet in nets for Burnley. An astonishing achievement unlikely to be eclipsed any time soon. Elsewhere in the EFL, Save of the Weekend contenders came from Jamal Blackman, Corey Addai and Gabe Breeze. A truly fine weekend for goalkeeping.

If errors leading to goals are a clear marker of a goalkeeper's game, Robert Sanchez would be in the lower echelons of those performing in this season's Premier League. The much-maligned Chelsea stopper was at fault for Man City's winner on Saturday, so we look at whether the negative hype is fair or perhaps somewhat exaggerated based on his actions aside from goals conceded. Elsewhere, Thomas Kaminski stopped a rot of 13 successive penalties conceded by Luton, Hull bagged a third consecutive clean sheet and victory on the road for the first time since March 2011, and Murphy Cooper produced an audacious piece of skill for Stevenage in League One.

What is a howler? That is the question. 'Twas a word which cropped up a fair few times over the weekend. Andre Onana, Robert Sanchez and James Beadle just three of the suspects suspected to have committed the most catastrophic of calamities if reports were to be believed. In reality, two were errors and one shouldn't have even been discussed as anything other than how it would have and has since been discussed in goalkeeping circles. We delve into all three, in addition to the heroics of James Trafford's two penalty saves in Burnley's goalless draw at home to Sunderland on Friday night.

Everything comes to he who waits... That was the case for Brandon Austin who, after spending the best part of 17 years at Totttenham Hotspur, was finally granted his first team debut at the weekend. The soon-to-be 26-year-old acquitted himself well in the defeat to Newcastle, earning the Man of the Match award on TNT Sports and giving Ange Postecoglou something to think about ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool. Elsewhere, Matz Sels is perhaps the surprise package of the season in the Premier League. The Belgian leads the way for top-flight clean sheets following his blank in Nottingham Forest's 3-0 win over Wolves. In the EFL, Illan Meslier is feeling the heat at Leeds, Joe Whitworth provided an assist in Exeter's defeat to Bolton and Ben Amos returned to league action for the first time since April 2023.