The Goalkeeper’s Revenge

The Goalkeeper’s Revenge is comprised of stories of a Lancashire childhood: of football on the streets, fishing, fighting and school, of growing up and looking for work, and of characters such as Spit Nolan the champion trolley-rider, Sim Dalt the goalkeeper and Maggie Gregory the amazing reader.

Bill Naughton (1910-1992) was a British playwright and author best known for his plays ’Spring and Port Wine’ and ’Alfie’, the latter which he adapted for screen in the iconic 1966 film starring Michael Caine.

Born in Ireland, he grew up in Lancashire and his writing contains vivid evocations of the impoverished mining communities of the North of England, bound together by ties of family, kith and kin.

Bill Naughton won the Screenwriters award 1967 and 1968 and the Prix Italia for Radio Play ’1974’ before settling in the Isle of Man where he wrote several children’s books based on his childhood memories.