The Loneliness Of The Goalkeeper

One thing I do have to confess is that tucked away in Austin's wardrobe is a full England goalkeeping strip to fit him when he's five. It was purchased just before we left London and cost only £5.99. At that price it would have been bad parenting to leave it on the shelf.

This also explains the outfield shirt (4, Gerrard) for when he's thirteen.

But the keeper's strip is special, which is why he also has a matching pair of England goalkeeping gloves. They're Umbro, just like Dad's, and much better than the pair I wore when I first stood between the sticks as an eight year old.

Those were orange wool with lots of black rubber spots. They came from a sports store but looked a heck of a lot like gardening gloves.

It was Christchurch. They probably were.

Given my purchases, it may come as a surprise that I'm actually relaxed about the idea of him choosing another code. Or none at all. That said, I do of course have high hopes that he'll come to share his Dad's passion for football.

He's English, for heaven's sake. And one-quarter Scouse.

As to whether he plays in goal, my feelings are mixed. Part of me would love to see my boy in the number one shirt, but all those years in the job have given me an acute understanding of the harsh realities he would be spared if he chooses the easier path of an outfield role.

This is something I've thought about quite a lot this season. As a keeper, thinking's something you get a lot of time to do. I guess it's also natural to reflect when playing your first season as a parent; even more so being back to the proper version of the game after four years of London five-a-side.

And, though only nine games old, this season has long since highlighted all the pitfalls of goalkeeping.

The game where you're having a blinder then make a mistake with two minutes to go that costs the team a win. The game where your team dominates for 80 minutes, fails to score and then gets caught on the break. The saves that deserve to be match winners but don't rate a mention because they're part of a 6-0 victory. Standing alone in the driving rain.

Who would wish that on their son?

Still, there is a lot to be said for being different: the last line of defence, the only one who can't afford to make mistakes. With that comes the satisfaction of doing the basics well: distribution, crosses and coming off your line.

And then there's the feeling you get when you make the improbable stop.

As Russian great Lev Yashin said: "The joy of seeing Yuri Gagarin flying in space is only superseded by the joy of a good penalty save."

I wouldn't know - I'm naught from two this season.