Brad and Charlie Hart’s Special Day at Tottenham Hotspur

Brad and Charlie Hart, a father and son duo, are dedicated season-ticket holders at Tottenham Hotspur. They always sit close to the tunnel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where 10-year-old Charlie has made it a tradition to rush down at full time, hoping to catch the attention of players for autographs as they leave the pitch. But earlier this month, after Tottenham’s 4-1 win over West Ham United, Charlie realised he had forgotten his trusty marker pen for collecting autographs. Little did he know that he would leave that Saturday with something far more special than a signature.

During the game, Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario wore a baseball cap to shield his eyes from the midday sun. This simple act delighted nostalgic football fans, bringing back memories of the days when goalkeepers commonly wore caps, with one fan even commenting online about the “old school vibes.” For fans of a certain generation, a goalkeeper in a cap or joggers brought back images of comfort over fashion, looking more ready for a Sunday stroll than for elite football.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, it wasn’t unusual to see goalkeepers wearing caps. Legends like Germany’s Oliver Kahn and Russia’s Lev Yashin frequently sported headgear, but it has since become a rare sight. So, when Vicario’s cap made an appearance, it was a treat for fans. After the match, the goalkeeper coach, Rob Burch, approached Charlie with the cap in hand. “He just looked at me and said, ‘Catch,’” Charlie recalls. “I caught it in one hand because I had my dad’s phone in the other, though I’d have happily dropped the phone to make sure I caught it!”

For Charlie, who has only seen clips of goalkeepers in caps on YouTube, this was his first time witnessing one in a live game. His father, however, remembers it as a much more familiar sight from years past. While English goalkeepers Dean Henderson and Jordan Pickford have occasionally worn caps, it remains a rare choice in today’s game.

The Decline of Cap-Wearing Goalkeepers

Despite the decline, caps are still permitted under International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules for the 2024-25 season. Goalkeepers can wear caps, sports spectacles, and tracksuit bottoms, with certain restrictions on the colour of head covers. Yet, while the rules remain unchanged, the culture around caps has evolved.

Chris Kirkland, a former Liverpool goalkeeper, became known for his cap-wearing habit during his professional career in the late 1990s. Now 43, he’s still recognised by fans for it. Kirkland began using a cap in training at Coventry City’s academy after watching the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, Steve Ogrizovic, wear one. Not only did the cap shield Kirkland’s eyes from the sun, but it also helped him focus by reducing distractions.

“I used to wear one in training because I’m not great with the sun,” Kirkland recalls. “I burn easily, so I’d use caps to shield my face. Over time, I found it helped me concentrate, blocking out distractions. I even wore it when it wasn’t sunny, which earned me some odd looks.” Kirkland explains that the cap would sometimes help block out the sun at specific angles, aiding his vision.

Fans have often come to the rescue of goalkeepers caught in the sun. In 2017, a Leeds United fan handed his cap to goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald during a match at Barnsley, and in 2018, a West Ham supporter threw a cap to Joe Hart during an FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town.

Kirkland fondly remembers his own well-used navy blue Nike cap, which he wore so frequently that the Nike logo eventually peeled off. “I kept that cap for years until my partner insisted I get rid of it. She said, ‘That is absolutely honking and has got to go!’”

Practicality, Fashion, and the Decline of Caps

Richard Lee, a former Watford and Brentford goalkeeper, has a unique association with caps—not from wearing them, but from appearing on the business show Dragons’ Den to pitch a cap company. Though he never wore a cap in a game, he acknowledges their benefits for blocking out the sun. However, he notes a downside: “Caps are helpful for keeping the sun out, but when a cross or high ball comes in, you get a sudden glare. I’d almost prefer having the sun in my vision consistently so I’d know where it is.”

Lee believes style may also play a role in goalkeepers moving away from caps. “Goalkeepers nowadays are conscious of their brand and appearance. When you step out onto the pitch, you want to feel and present yourself in a certain way, whether that’s for fans, scouts, or your teammates.”

This trend is also influencing younger goalkeepers. “Young players emulate what they see from Premier League goalkeepers,” Lee says. “You’re seeing caps less often at youth levels too.”

Towards the end of her career, former Everton and England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis found an alternative to caps. She used special orange-tinted contact lenses made by Nike, which effectively reduced glare without the need for a cap. “They looked a bit ‘Halloween,’ but they were by far the most effective,” she recalls. Brown-Finnis explains that the bright sunshine can affect a goalkeeper’s performance, and it’s common for goalkeepers to hope their team wins the coin toss so they can avoid facing the sun in the first half.

Protective Gear and Goalkeeper Safety

While caps are fading, some goalkeepers have adopted protective headgear. Jacob Widell Zetterstrom of Derby County, for example, wears a scrum cap for protection. This type of headgear became popular when former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech began wearing it after a head injury. Former Swedish goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski also wore head protection in the final years of his career after multiple concussions.

“It was too many concussions in a short period,” Pyzdrowski says. “A specialist told me I needed to consider the long-term impact if I wanted a good quality of life in the future. I decided I’d have to wear a helmet. It took a while to get used to, but it made me feel safer on the pitch.”

Pyzdrowski notes that protective headgear is becoming more common in Sweden, with several top-flight goalkeepers choosing to wear it. “As a goalkeeper, you’re very vulnerable. Safety should be a priority,” he says.

A Special Memento for Charlie

Charlie Hart’s encounter with Vicario’s cap is a memorable addition to his collection of Tottenham memories. After bringing it to school to show his classmates, Charlie now hopes to get it signed by Vicario at an upcoming home game. Once signed, he plans to display it in a case, preserving it as a reminder of a special family day and a cherished memory that resonates with the nostalgia of football fans everywhere.

I burn easily, so I’d use caps to shield my face. Over time, I found it helped me concentrate, blocking out distractions.

— Chris Kirkland