Before 1970, goalies used gloves exclusively in inclement weather. Nowadays, not only the goalkeeper wears gloves, but around half of the players do as well if the air is a little chilly. Gloves are all the rage at the moment. Surprisingly, the first goalkeeping glove patent was issued in 1885. This was three years before the formation of the Soccer League. William Sykes, a ball maker, invented a rubber glove for your Victorian gentleman goalie to keep his hands lovely and supple.
Catching the Ball With Bare Hands
He was ahead of his time. Gordon Banks, England’s best-ever goalkeeper, donned gloves just as an experiment for his 1970 World Cup appearance in Mexico. That implies he assisted England in 1966 in winning the World Cup with his bare hands. As the game has evolved, so has glove technology, and keepers now have a variety of options. They may choose from flat palmed gloves, cushioned roll finger gloves, or negative cut gloves, depending on their desire.
Although negative cut gloves are thought to be superior at dealing crosses, the majority of keepers seem to favor roll finger gloves since they are the most comfortable to wear. Gloves are used by contemporary goalkeepers to increase their grip on the ball (yet some keepers still drop it.) A keeper must be certain that the ball will remain lodged in their gloves when they attempt to catch it.
Gloves to the Rescue
Additionally, they give protection from injuries. The current goalkeeper does not want to confront a thunderbolt shot with their bare hands from a striker wearing modern soccer footwear. If he or she does, the physiotherapist will be required to provide ice packs to the unfortunate keeper’s scorching hands. Ricardo, the Portuguese goalie, famously parted with his gloves during the Euro 2004 penalty shootout against England. He was aware of how poor England’s penalty takers were, as Portugal went on to win 6-5, with the gloveless Ricardo scoring the winning penalty.
Hand & Head Protection
Nonetheless, during regular match play, the keeper of the nets will wear gloves to avoid having their fingers fractured or bending back. The contemporary goalkeeping glove protects the keeper’s hands and eliminates the need for first aid or physio supplies. The current football is far lighter than its pre-war ancestor. They used to play with footballs that were not only bulky but also gained weight as a result of the thick, muddy surfaces they played on. It certainly seems absurd that keepers in those days were willing to take shots with their bare hands. Some contemporary goalkeepers, like Chelsea’s Petr Cech, not only wear gloves but also head protection.
