Are goalkeepers a breed apart?

At some social sessions attended, there is the dreaded shout of "We'll just take turns in goal", which means at some point it will be my time to stand in the goalkeeper's area and try and stop the ball from crossing the line. When my turn comes around I do my bit and try to stop the ball with legs, arms and body. I'm never going to dive as it would take forever to get back up and there is that internal thought that diving on the ground is going to hurt.

Another more recent concern for being hurt when goalkeeping, is when facing a fiercely struck ball that is rocketing towards you at goodness knows how many miles an hour. There are players in every team that have the power of shot and the steely marksman glint of eye, that wherever they are on the pitch, when their leg is drawn back then the goalkeeper knows what's coming.

So when forced, I'll go in goal, but it does beg the question, why on earth would you volunteer, or even prefer, to be a goalkeeper?

With walking football I am constantly amazed at how good the goalkeeping can be. I look at some of these people, who are in their late sixties and seventies, and am amazed at how they throw themselves around the goal and continue stopping shots. They may wear the extra laying of clothing and add some protective padding, but they are still doing things that I'm not sure I could do in my twenties.

Keepers are different. They obtain enormous satisfaction from stopping that shot or preventing that goal. Like the number nine needs to score so the goalkeeper needs that clean sheet. They own that semicircle and patrol and protect with everything they have. By virtue of being in their own space they are separated from the play. They can't decide to drift out wide or push up to support the attack. They stay. Watching. Preparing. Positioning for that breakaway or long range effort. Then as soon as they have the ball there's a maximum six seconds before it's gone. Rolled underarm or kicked and it's out of their space.

When I started the Local League I didn't appreciate how instrumental the goalkeepers would become in determining the league positions. Teams invested in the goalkeepers and the rewards were some unbelievable performances and a low count of goals.

What's your favourite goalkeeper save or goalkeeping moment?