STEPPING UP TO THE MARK: In goal - Do your goalmouths make the grade?

摘要

Nowhere on a football pitch are surface conditions as important as the goalmouth and penalty area, yet nowhere else on an association football pitch is the potential for surface deterioration greater. As such, the poorest surface conditions are oftenfound in an area where the best conditions are ideally required. On the pitch it can be argued that whether surface conditions are good, bad or indifferent, it is the same for both teams. However, as a goalkeeper I'd rather be beaten by a well-struck shot, skilfully placed than a mis-hit ball that bobbles over a diving arm or, more embarrassingly, a pass back from one of your team mates that takes a bobble over your foot and rolls into the back of the net. We've all been there, amateur or professional!