Applauding The Kop

Paul Wilkes

Description

Applauding the Kop is the definitive story of Liverpool FC's goalkeepers. Through a series of remarkable interviews, it reveals the pressure and demands of playing in the prime position for one of the most successful sides in world football. The book offers honest observer accounts of the greatest goalkeepers to ever pull on the number-one jersey at Anfield, and first-hand anecdotes from those who trained at the club. Get an insider's view on the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Jerzy Dudek and David James. The players share funny, emotional and alternative viewpoints of their more illustrious team-mates at Liverpool and elsewhere, offering a rare glimpse of life in the most extraordinary leagues and teams in Europe. Applauding the Kop provides a unique insight into the personalities of many goalkeeping greats, and tells the tales of others who were less successful, detailing the events that dictate how they are perceived. Each player had a very different journey in their quest to reach the pinnacle of the game.

Sujets

• Lancashire
• Lancastre
• Liverpool

Informations

• Publié par: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 31 août 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781785318085
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

First published by Pitch Publishing, 2020
Pitch Publishing
A2 Yeoman Gate
Yeoman Way
Durrington
BN13 3QZ
www.pitchpublishing.co.uk
Paul Wilkes, 2020
Every effort has been made to trace the copyright.
Any oversight will be rectified in future editions at the earliest opportunity by the publisher.
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A CIP catalogue record is available for this book from the British Library
Print ISBN 9781785316517
eBook ISBN 9781785318085
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Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
1. The First Custodians, Paving the Way
2. Tommy Lawrence, The Flying Pig
3. Ray Clemence, Mr Reliable
4. Bruce Grobbelaar, Handstands, Trophies and Trauma
5. David James, Mistakes, Madness and Maturity
6. Tony Warner, Merseyside, Millwall, Malta and Mimms
7. Michael Stensgaard, It s Not the End of the World
8. Sander Westerveld, Houllier, The Treble and Spain
9. Pegguy Arphexad, Lucky Omen
10. Scott Carson, Leeds, Turkey and Lampard
11. Jerzy Dudek, Poland, Feyenoord and Forlan
12. Martin Hansen, The Other Side of the Coin
13. Peter Gulacsi, Hungary, Hull and Red Bull
14. Danny Ward, Wales, Huddersfield and Karius
15. John Achterberg, Tranmere, Coaching and Alisson
Bibliography
For Gemma, Owen, Liam and Joshua x
Acknowledgements
MY WRITING career has been a rollercoaster over the last ten years, and I have certainly come a long way since I started a blog on Spanish football. I would like to thank those who helped me from the very start and gave me the confidence to pursue writing as a feasible option. From Elisa and the late Armando for giving me my first opportunity to write on their website (albeit for free) to Ben Cove at Unibet for giving me my first paid writing gig. I would like to express gratitude to my father-in-law Rob Billington, his then business partner Paul Kemshell and others at WRM Media for listening to my vision and then implementing it for my website.
I have worked with numerous editors and sub-editors through the years, and I appreciate all of their advice and tips. It s at FourFourTwo where I have freelanced for the longest, and where I continue to provide content. The staff has changed a lot over time but I m particularly beholden to Gary Parkinson and Joe Brewin. They have listened to my countless ideas and pitches, while also allowing me to represent the company at some of the biggest matches in the Premier League.
I would also like to praise Jane Camillin at Pitch Publishing for giving me the platform to write this book and for her understanding when I was forced to juggle multiple balls during the latter stages. Alex Daley for his attention to detail and support, Duncan Olner for making the cover look so extraordinary, Graham Hales for making it more readable and correcting my grammar, and anyone else behind the scenes at Pitch.
The two best Manchester United authors in the business have been exceptionally helpful. Andy Mitten has been brilliant with me since we first met in the press room at Anfield before Liverpool versus Borussia Dortmund. He has given me guidance and information that isn t available in manuals. Wayne Barton has also been extremely supportive and given me belief. Ryan Baldi is another that has offered me some assistance, while Jason Pettigrove has been meaningful with his direction at various times that I have worked in this profession.
The interviews that I conducted for the book have all been invaluable and worthwhile. From the legends I heard stories about to those I watched play on TV and within stadiums: Jamie Carragher, Ronnie Whelan, David Fairclough, Mick Halsall, Paul Stewart, David Thompson, Jean-Paul van Gastel, Stephen Wright, Stephen Warnock, Markus Babbel, Tony Warner, Michael Stensgaard, Sander Westerveld, Pegguy Arphexad, Scott Carson, Martin Hansen, Peter Gulacsi, Danny Ward and John Achterberg.
The media staff at Manchester City, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Derby County, RB Leipzig, Ingolstadt and Basel for allowing me to speak to their players about the subjects covered. The lads at Aldridge White Watch for the constant badgering in order to motivate me to finish this book.
I m also grateful to my mum and dad for their support in my life and for bestowing me with the principles that have meant I can be trusted with information from strangers.
My three children, Owen, Liam and Joshua, for their patience with me during this time and for their understanding. I hope this will set an example that dreams are there to be achieved.
Finally, my wife Gemma, who has been supportive of me throughout the process. She has read through chapters for me, despite a blatant dislike of all things football. I know it has been difficult at times, but I hope you can now see the full benefit.
Foreword
GROWING UP in the mid-1980s, Neville Southall was probably the best in Europe, maybe even the world. I always knew that we had a better goalkeeper than Liverpool.
The first thing that springs to mind regarding goalkeepers is the 1986 season when both Liverpool and Everton were going for the title and the FA Cup. Liverpool came out on top, although I think everyone thought that Everton would win the league. Bruce Grobbelaar made a mistake in the Merseyside derby, when Kevin Ratcliffe hit a shot from about 30 yards at the Kop end and it snuck underneath the Liverpool man.
Bruce was always remembered for things like that; he was a little unorthodox, although he had his good moments as well. He was so agile and athletic, probably ahead of his time, in terms of coming out and using his feet. It would put your heart in your mouth, but we see this a lot from goalkeepers now.
Roy Naylor was my goalkeeper when we won the FA Youth Cup at Liverpool a decade later. The team contained Michael Owen, David Thompson, Jon Newby and a keeper who looked like Eddie the Eagle. I don t think any of us thought that Roy was going to go on and play for Liverpool, but I always remember the Manchester United game in the quarter-final.
He was brilliant and kept us in it. They totally out-played us in the first half and had a few one-on-ones. His Eddie the Eagle features helped him that day, as everything seemed to hit his chin. That game was famous for Michael s hat-trick, but without Roy Naylor we would have really struggled. Roy was a massive part of that Youth Cup win.
He was one of the lads that was quite shy and used to get a bit of stick, but he always took it quite well. That United game was a massive moment for him because he got a lot of attention afterwards from the lads.
David James was my first goalkeeper when I was promoted to the seniors. He was a great person to have around was Jamo. He s mad, really! He s hyperactive! A big character and a very funny lad. I had him at England as well throughout my international career. I sometimes look at Jamo and think that you couldn t get a better possible physique for a goalkeeper. Normally, someone of that size isn t that agile, but he was unbelievable. So quick and robust, although he just probably lacked concentration and focus. That made him make bad decisions at times.
That was the biggest thing with Jamo. His decision-making stopped him from becoming a world-class goalkeeper. He was a top Premier League goalkeeper and had over 50 caps for England, but he just couldn t quite get up to that level of your Peter Schmeichels, Edwin van der Sars and Petr Cechs. He was probably a level below those guys because he just didn t have the concentration. It meant that, at times, he would make poor choices like coming out for a cross or when he had long spells not doing anything.
I always remember Jamo in a cup game he played for Watford against Everton. He was coming for everything and punching everything. He always seemed like a goalkeeper who wanted to be involved in the action all the time. I used to sometimes think, Is that always the best thing for a goalkeeper? He always wanted to make his mark in a game, whereas a goalkeeper who isn t involved or isn t in the firing line normally shows that the match has gone well for the team. That was just his style.
Without a doubt this improved as he got older. Jamo was very dedicated and he employed sports psychologists. He wanted to do everything he could. He had that maturity when he went on in his career. That shows in the fact he has the record for the most clean sheets in the Premier League and also the fourth-highest amount of appearances. Jamo had a long and very good career, but he will probably be a bit disappointed how it finished at Liverpool and then not getting back to a club of that level again.
Tony Bonus Warner was the back-up keeper. He was called that because he never played but always got the win bonus when the team won. He s a big character in Liverpool.
As a 17-year-old, I was playing for the reserves at Notts County and it was snowing. We were warming up and this ball came flying towards me. I half-volleyed it and I couldn t have connected with it any better. It was heading straight for his head. I couldn t even shout him; it was going that quick. It hit him right on the ear. He turned to look and saw it was me. He came marching over. Honest to God, I thought the goalkeeper was going to kill me in the warm-up!
It s brilliant to see him around the city when I m out. It was always going to be difficult for him at Liverpool. I think it s hard for