The Keeper

1st half rather slow - livens up in 2nd. Two principal actors (German) and supporting British cast good. Film shows initial suspicion and hatred of Trautmann and later full acceptance by Man city supporters. The war scenes are rather glossed over (German script writers). In reality Trautmann was originally a committed Nazi and met the Fuhrer at the Hitler youth games where he was a silver medal winner at 2 events. As an elite paratrooper he won the Iron Cross and took part in the airborne invasion of Crete where he killed a few partisans. His training later helped to further his goalkeeping skills and he dived at the feet of opposing forwards and rolled forward with the ball. He surrendered to the British sector as the Americans would have killed him. He really should have played for Germany in the 1954 World Cup finals in Switzerland but only players with national home based clubs were considered.

After his broken neck in the 1956 cup final it was encased in plaster for 5 months. He was certainly a Manchester city legend. In 1964 I attended his testimonial (last game)which was never finished as the crowd invaded the pitch to shake his hand. He made a moving tannoy address and many were in tears.

He is the only player to win the OBE (Order of the British Empire) and the German equivalent, The Iron Cross and an FA cup winners medal. He died in 2013.