Does Height Matter? Goalkeeper Performance Across Three Levels of English Football

Goalkeeper (GK) height is frequently considered in recruitment, although its association with competitive performance remains uncertain. This observational study examined height and mean Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) per shot across three English professional divisions during 2025–2026. The dataset included 148 men GKs, 150 GK-division records and 12,236 shots on target; 122 shots lacked expected goals on target (xGOT), comprising 121 goals and one saved attempt. The primary regression related GK-division mean GSAA on 12,114 valid shots to height, adjusting for age and division with GK-clustered inference. The adjusted association per 5 cm was −0.0045 GSAA per shot (95% CI: −0.0165 to 0.0074; p = 0.455). Exposure-based sensitivities did not reveal a stable direction. Secondary shot-level models accounted for GK and match clustering; ten omnibus tests were Holm-adjusted. Height × division and height × zone tests yielded adjusted p-values of 0.826 and 0.379. Marginal zone differences in xGOT and GSAA remained evident, whereas division contrasts did not meet the adjusted threshold. The available-case calibration slopes were 0.876, 0.956 and 0.999 in the Premier League, Championship and League One, respectively. Height showed no clear adjusted linear association with mean GSAA, but the uncertainty does not exclude practically relevant associations.