Paul Owens has attempted something remarkably specific: a comprehensive history of one position at one football club. It could have been as dry as yesterday's match reports. Instead, he's produced something unexpectedly compelling: a book that uses Everton's goalkeeping lineage to tell a broader story about football's evolution and the changing nature of what it means to be the last line of defense.
The book's strength lies in its intimate access to its subjects. Through extensive interviews with living Everton goalkeepers, Owens weaves personal anecdotes with tactical analysis, creating portraits that feel both personal and historically significant. His account of Neville Southall's punishing training routines, for instance, reveals not just the Welsh keeper's legendary work ethic, but also how goalkeeping transformed from a position where you "just stood there and stopped shots" to one requiring peak athletic conditioning.
Particularly fascinating is the chapter on Ted Sagar's 24-year tenure with the club (1929-1953), which doubles as a social history of pre-war and wartime football. Owens skillfully contextualizes Sagar's remarkable longevity against the backdrop of a changing game and society, including his service during World War II while still maintaining his footballing duties.
The book really finds its rhythm when exploring the characters behind the statistics. Gordon West's partnership with Brian Labone provides genuine laughs, while Tim Howard's journey from Tourette's syndrome diagnosis to Premier League stardom offers powerful human interest. These stories transcend the sport itself, making the book accessible even to readers who wouldn't know their near post from their far post.
Owens deserves particular praise for including a substantial section on Everton Women's goalkeepers, treating their stories with equal weight and importance. The profile of Rachel Brown-Finnis is especially well-crafted, offering insights into the development of women's football in England through the lens of its goalkeepers.
If there's a criticism to be made, it's that occasionally Owens' evident passion for his subject leads him down statistical rabbit holes that might test the patience of casual readers. Some sections feel more like reference material than narrative history.
However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an accomplished work. By focusing on one position at one club, Owens has paradoxically created something universal—a book about dedication, evolution, and the unique mindset required to be the one player on the field who can't afford to make a mistake.
"The Glovesmen of Goodison" serves as both a valuable historical record and an engaging read. It's a reminder that every position has its own rich history, and that sometimes the most compelling stories in football are found not in the scoring of goals but in their prevention.
For Evertonians, it's essential reading. For everyone else, it's a surprisingly engaging exploration of how one position in football has evolved over more than a century. Owens has not only documented history, but also encapsulated the essence of a frequently misinterpreted position and the individuals who have shaped it into their own.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Delivered to You 1st Week, August 2025
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Published: July 28, 2025
Price: £19.99
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1836801645
ISBN-13: 978-1836801641
Dimensions: 222 x 144 (mm)
British Pound Sterling
Portuguese (Brazil)
