In the tradition of this website and the unimaginative titled posts, here is another. The tunes today are all about the tall bloke at the back, the weirdo always shouting things. The footballing version of the drummer in the band.

These are clichés and probably untrue until you remember René Higuita, John Burridge or Grobbelaar.

But this isn’t just about the so called “crazy” ‘keepers, there are plenty of tunes singing about their heroics. Starting with…

Kasey Keller

Kasey Keller
The first American goalkeeper in the Premier League. Keller’s career in England started with Millwall in 1992 before signing with Leicester, then over to Rayo Vallecano and after that was at Tottenham initially as a backup but then played two full seasons as first choice.

We go back to 10th February 1998 though. It was the CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi-Final between the U.S.A and the then World Cup holders, Brasil.

The match was in a stalemate until the 65th minute when Preki – remember him, was a Everton and Portsmouth, popped up to put the USA in the lead. After that it was all hands on deck from the Brazil team and a relentless pressure to get an equalizer. But despite them taking up target practice on their oppositions goal, none of them got past Keller.

After their defeat Romario remarked: “That is the best performance by a goalkeeper I have ever seen. It was an honour to be on the pitch with him.”

The now defunct band Barcelona (also known as Barcelona DC) after watching this match were inspired to go into the studio and record this:

» Barcelona – Kasey Keller


Packie Bonner

Packie Bonner
This legendary Ireland goalkeeper needs no introduction. Bonner was a one club man. Played for Celtic from 1978-1998 and made 483 appearances. He went to three major tournament finals starting with Euro 1988, then to the 1990 World Cup and the World Cup finals in 1994.

It was the 25th of June 1990 which is long remembered by Republic of Ireland supporters. Ireland had made it through the group stages and faced Romania in the Round of 16. The match itself was also possibly the longest one that the fans had ever witnessed. After 90 minutes and extra time the game ended nil-nil and it came down to penalties. The winner to face Italy in the next round, the loser to go home.

Four of the Romanian pens were scored and Ireland had four scored as well. It was back with Romania for their fifth but Daniel Timofte put the ball too close to Bonner and he saved it. David O’Leary then scored the last penalty to put Ireland through.

Margo is Margo O’Donnell – the elder sister of Daniel and the one who gave young Daniel O’Donnell a start in the music business. Margo is the ‘Queen of Irish country music’. She recorded this tune about her fellow Donegal born countryman.

» Margo – Packie Bonner


After two examples of goalkeeping heroics breaking things up with an embarrassing moment for this next shot stopper:

David Seaman

David Seaman
After signing for a then-record fee Seaman was the Arsenal number 1 from 1990 until 2003. In his time won the First Division title, the Premier League twice, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. He was the undesputed England No.1 from Euro ’96 until 2002.

That memory that he’d rather you’d forget isn’t the one you are thinking about. Or that one. It was in the F.A. Cup Semi Final in 1991 which took place a Wembley before it became standard for all the semi’s to be played there.

It was the Year ending in 1 and it was Spurs and it was Gary Lineker, along with Paul Gascoigne at the peak of his game. Tottenham went two-nil up thanks to a sweet Gazza free kick which gave us an immortal line from the commentator Barry Davis:

He’s not going to have a go from there…. he is you know…!

Lineker got the 2nd with Arsenal’s Alan Smith getting one back before Lineker struck again to seal the win.

Gascoigne’s free kick is at 30 seconds in the above video. The Lineker strike to make it 3-1 starts around 2 mins 35 seconds. It was after this goal went in that Barry Davis uttered another line:
“…And David Seaman will be very disappointed about that…”
Which isn’t remembered as much as the other quote apart from if you are a Spurs fan. Also if you were a musician as well as being a Tottenham supporter because this long remembered match and that moment was immortalised in song.

These musicians formed a band and released a one sided flexi-disc. Via Wikipedia:

The Lillies were an indie rock band formed as a collaboration between members of the bands Cocteau Twins (Simon Raymonde), Lush (Miki Berenyi, Chris Acland) and Moose (Kevin McKillop, Russell Yates).

They released only one song titled “And David Seaman Will Be Very Disappointed About That…”, which appeared on a flexi-disc that came with the Tottenham Hotspur football fanzine The Spur (Issue 24, Sept 1991).

It was the fanzine editor, Stuart Mutler, who had the idea. News article scans:

» The Lillies – …And David Season Will Be Very Disappointed About That


There are still plenty more tunes we could post but wrapping this up now with a tune graciously supplied by Paul Vought. Thank you very much Paul, sorry it took so long.

The featured keeper is:

Shaka Hislop

Shaka Hislop
Was spotted by a scout from Reading and signed as a professional for them. Played at Elm Park for three seasons. Was then signed for Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle and was in the side that finished 2nd twice in the Premier League. Went on to appear for West Ham then for Portsmouth (winning promotion to the Prem) before returning to West Ham and appearing in the 2006 FA Cup Final.

Shaka had an uncertain start with Reading (Which is where his “Shaky” nickname started ?) but established himself as a firm fan favourite. He won the Player Of The Year award twice and was instrumental in helping to get Reading from the third tier to the brink of the Premier League. His last game for them was the 1995 Division One Play Off Final against Bolton.

As previously mentioned I lived in Reading in the 1990’s and was a regular down Elm Park. I stood in the Tilehurst End and watched Shaka set up his fortress in front of that goal. What I didn’t know until Paul dropped us a line was that somebody had the knowhow and the cash to record and release this single:

As the 45cat entry mentions it was a one-sided single on blue vinyl, featuring two mixes of the same song.

» The South Bank – Shaka-What’s The Score? (A)

» The South Bank – Shaka-What’s The Score? (AA)

Next up – and you will be not surprised to read this – a few goalkeepers singing.

One Reply to “Sing about the goalkeeper”

  1. The Lillies – had no idea they existed until this article. Of note is that Miki of Lush and Kevin of Moose are back together in a band called Piroshka (along with Justin Welch of Elastica and Michael Conroy of Modern English). New album due soon.

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