What's it like being a top goalkeeper? The role of the goalkeeper is a unique one. He is the only player allowed to handle the ball, and apart from freak circumstances, never scores a goal. He must also be blessed with remarkable bravery and a complete disregard for his own safety. It was once said, with some truth, that to be a goalkeeper there is only one qualification - he must be mad!

Phil Parkes and Alan Stevenson have this season emerged as two bright young hopes in the goalkeeping scene. Both were in the promotion sides from the Second Division in 1973, Parkes with Queens Park Rangers and Stevenson with Burnley. Neither would admit to having a trait of madness - only the good fortune to belong to two teams who have taken the First Division by storm in their first season back in the big time. Their discussion about their careers, and what it takes to be a goalkeeper, make fascinating reading...

PARKES: Great to be in the First Division, isn't it Alan? For me there's nothing like it. Every week your goalkeeping skills are tested to the limit by the best sharpshooters in the country. That is the big difference I have found between the First and Second Divisions. Give a First Division forward just one half-chance in the whole 90 minutes and he will make the most of it.

STEVENSON: That's been my experience too, Phil. But I wouldn't swap it for the world. And in the First, every game has the atmosphere of an important match - while in the Second, only the vital games can boast that.

PARKES: Well, we've both come a long way in a short time. How did you start your footballing career?

STEVENSON: I always wanted to be a'keeper and played for my school team at Staveley in Derbyshire. Then, I joined Chesterfield as an amateur while training to be an engineer. I had been at the club three years when the first team 'keeper was injured and I was given my break. The club then offered me the chance to turn professional and I jumped at it. I was with Chesterfield as a pro. for just over two years when I signed for Burnley for �50,000. I haven't looked back since!

PARKES: Ironically, my career was very similar. I always fancied yself between the sticks, but after I left school I trained as a carpenter because I wanted the security of a trade behind me in case I failed to make the grade. I got my opportunity when the first team 'keeper at Walsall, where I was playing as an amateur, was out of form and I was given his place. I was offered professional terms soon afterwards and, like you Alan, I jumped at the chance. Afterwards, Les Allen who was manager of Queens Park Rangers, offerd to buy me for �15,000. The club were happy and I was more than pleased to move up a rung.

STEVENSON: It's only about four years that we have been in professional football, but quite a lot seems to have happened to us in that time. I have known really great moments with Burnley. Strangely enough, my best game for them was when we were beaten in an FA Cup replay last season, in which we were knocked out 3-0 by Liverpool at Anfield. I felt I had played well, though. They had us under tremendous pressure for most of the game and a lot of the saves I pulled off gave me tremendous satisfaction.

PARKES: My proudest moments? Well, there are two really. First, when Rangers won promotion to the First Division, although the build-up was more exciting than the actual achievement which proved a bit of an anti-climax. The other was this season when we went to Wolves and beat them 4-2 at Molyneux. I used to stand and watch the Wolves as a kid and it really chuffed me to go back there and win. No doubt we have skeletons in our cupboard, too, Alan!

STEVENSON: True! I can recall two particularly embarrassing moments, both with Chesterfield. The first was when we were playing Brighton a couple of years ago. There was a goalmouth skirmish and I dived on the ball in the six-yard box. I heard the whistle go and assumed the ref. had blown for a foul. So I placed the ball down to take a free-kick...and one of their forwards promptly thumped the ball into the net! I ran after him because I felt like clouting him for taking the mickey. Then the ref gave a goal!

The other embarrassing occasion was against your old club, Walsall. While trying to throw the ball clear, I only managed to find the Walsall centre-forward on the edge of the area. He said thank you very much and tapped the ball home.

PARKES: Well, I can't recall anything so amusing, Alan. But I have had disappointments. There were two games last season which hurt a bit when I think of them. We were beating you up at Turf Moor when one of your strikers equalised against the run of play and we had to settle for a point. Then we went down 2-0 at Oxford United in similar circumstances and in the end we lost the Second Division Championship by one point, to Burnley! That still smarts.

STEVENSON: You might think those examples would put someone off being a 'keeper for life, Phil! But seriously what do you think makes a 'keeper?

PARKES: First and foremost, it must be a natural ability, a natural willingness to throw yourself about without thinking about your own safety. It's also a vital position in a successful team because although the 'keeper rarely scores, he can give away goals. That's an awful lot of responsibility.

STEVENSON: I agree. And it's a role which as well as talent demands concentration and patience. You can be idle and uninvolved for 89 minutes, but you must still be as sharp and alert as you started because there are such things as last minute goals!

PARKES: Finally, Alan, what's your ambition? Of course I would love to play for England, but as much as that I would love to stay in the First Division. Life is just fine at the moment.

STEVENSON: I would like to hold down that England spot, too, Phil, so you've got some competition there! And with Burnley I want to win a Championship medal. That would be marvellous.

Reproduced by Jez Wilson, August 1998

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