Tiny Keeper: Steve Death, Record Breaker, Shy Genius and Maverick

by Alan Hester

The extraordinary story of Steve Death, once the shortest goalkeeper in the Football League – at just 5ft 7in. He was good enough to keep Peter Shilton out of the England Schoolboys side, yet spent his career in Divisions Three and Four and became a lower-league legend.


This tale of a shy genius, record-breaker and maverick


Death’s time as part of the legendary West Ham United academy under Ron Greenwood when he trained and played alongside World Cup-winning trio Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Bobby MooreHow only his lack of height stopped him playing at the highest levelHow he carved out a brilliant career in Divisions Three and Four, playing 537 games for Reading and winning Player of the Year four times, on the first occasion while still on loanHow in 1979 he set a Football League record for the longest run of clean sheets – that record still stands!His modest life outside of football, living quietly with his family in a club house at the old Elm Park groundExclusive first-hand accounts from West Ham and Reading players, journalists, supporters and family membersDescribed on his debut as ‘an insignificantly built bundle of daredevil energy’, Death played without gloves, caught crosses one-handed and saved penalties instinctively. His remarkable story provides a fascinating insight into the lost world of 1970s lower-league football.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 24, 2025

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free copy in return for an open and honest review

This book is about Stephen Death the Reading keeper who is a club legend and held football league records but was a shy guy off the pitch and sadly died young at 54 . enjoyed the author interviewed former players about him and match reports. a interesting football book.

[Paul Kirkwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Reading fan of a certain age (over 60, like me) will revel in this richly nostalgic book of a bygone footballing age. In the 70s Death and his teammates had lifestyles closer to today's park footballers than League Two professionals. The legendary goalie smoked cigarettes during training and once got a lift to an away match from a local reporter when he missed the team bus. Players trained at a barracks down the road. Arrogant, wheeler-dealing chairman have always been around, though, it seems.

A private man who seldom gave interviews, Death was - and remains - something of an enigma. The book doesn't manage to unearth exactly why he quit the club suddenly in 1982 and his pre- and post-football life are briskly covered. There is a fair bit of repetition too with multiple references in ex-player interviews to his 5ft 7.5 inches height. That doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book, though. It's a very light read with large type and gaps between the lines. You'll canter through it in three hours or so.

Here's a radio interview with the author: https://soundcloud.com/paul-kirkwood-...

[Michael Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book not just for those of us who know this story and were part of it, but for anyone of my generation who supported a team in the lower leagues. For many will know of, and will have seen Stevie Death in action. Tiny of stature maybe, but a giant on the pitch where it mattered. Hester has done a decent job in piecing Deathy's story together with the help of ex-players and others. Deathy's performances are his legacy among those of us saw him play in what was a wonderful period for Reading Football Club. However, this book is a timely written reminder that will be treasured by those of us who still refer to the team as the Biscuit Men, and regard Stevie Death as one of our greatest ever players.

[Paul Vernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reminiscing about one of my favourite players when I was a teenager and the team I followed avidly at that time, a very different time for football to how it is now.

[Martyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the other reviewers who have posted, I grew up watching Steve Death pull off a string of amazing saves, preventing certain goals, on behalf of my beloved Reading FC.
While I enjoyed reading this book it didn't really tell me anything about the man I didn't already know. In fact, I have to take my hat off to the author for choosing to write a biography about the most reclusive footballer that's ever lived. I'm sure there were a lot easier targets he could've chosen.
The book is filled with anecdotes from former team mates, coaches and members of the press (quite often, it has to be said, repeating the same anecdotes). Unfortunately none really knew what he got up to once he left the confines of his footballing environment. As a result we are left reading a well-written, enjoyable revue of Death's public and professional life. Don't expect any earth shattering revelations. He was the polar opposite of his former team mate, the legendary Robin Friday. Steve Death was a great servant to Reading FC and for that alone he deserves to be remembered.

[Charles James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this because I had season ticket at Reading for five years in the 1970's . I watched the remarkable Steve Death play as a the regular Reading goalkeeper. He was with Reading for an incredible 13 years , Reading's player of the season on four, kept a clean sheer for 1073 minutes and managed an incredible 537 appearances . This book gives insight into the man with a mix of narrative and recollections by his fellow players .

It paints Death as something of a maverick with a liking for cigarettes and grey hounds .He left Reading with little ceremony and became a green keeper at a golf course .

Recommended for all Reading fans and those wanting to know a little more about this enigmatic keeper .