RICHARD Wright is hoping that future generations of Ipswich Town shot-stoppers might come from within the county thanks to the specialist coaching of #1Goalkeeping.

Stuart Watson

RICHARD Wright is hoping that future generations of Ipswich Town shot-stoppers might come from within the county thanks to the specialist coaching of #1Goalkeeping.

Former Town academy goalkeepers Scott Peak and Karl Daniels set up the company in 2006 with the aim of giving budding young keepers aged between six and 18 the chance to receive some position specific training.

Since then #1Goalkeeping has gone from strength-to-strength, progressing from just two coaches working out of two venues to numerous coaches working across nine different sites.

Such is their success that returning Ipswich Town keeper and former England international Richard Wright has offered his support by supplying the company's coaches with a number of his own brand of goalkeeping gloves.

Wright, who grew up in the Whitton area, said: “I remember as a kid myself never really getting any specific goalkeeper training until I was spotted by Ipswich at 14.

“I started playing in goal because I had an older brother who stuck me between the sticks and to have someone three years older than you smashing the ball at me helped a lot.

“We would either be out in the garden braking fence panels and getting shouted at by the neighbours or be over the field until it was too dark to play anymore.

“Goalkeeping is the specialist position though. It shouldn't just be a case of whoever can't run around goes in goal. It's important that young keepers get training in things like footwork, catching and decision making early on.”

It is that gap between the distinct lack of individual attention that keepers get at junior club level and the specialist attention received at academy level that #1Goalkeeping has filled.

Young keepers continue to train with their club, but then attend a weekly session at their nearest venue to brush up on a variety of goalkeeper specific skills alongside their fellow shot-stoppers.

The courses are open to keepers of all abilities, however, those that show potential are certainly in line to impress the right people with Scott Peak the current Ipswich Town Academy Goalkeeper Coach. Already two attendees of the courses have received trials at Ipswich Town.

Wright said: “If you are a young goalkeeper and you are any good then you will get spotted here. I've known Scott (Peaks) for many years as he was an apprentice at Ipswich when I was first here. I know the way he works, it is the way I used to work, and I believe that is the right way.

“It's important to look after young goalkeepers. You see the ball go in the back of the net sometimes and they look so disappointed but you have to try and tell them to always be positive and react in the right way.

“The advice I was always given was to never worry after you concede a goal, learn from it if it was a mistake obviously, but don't worry about it because you can't change it.”

For more information on #1Goalkeeping visit: www.#1goalkeeping.co.uk. Alternatively, e-mail: admin@1goalkeeping.co.uk, or call: 07955 129733.

#1Goalkeeping

Monday

Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club 6-7pm

Claydon Blue Circle 6.30-7.30pm

Wivenhoe FC 7-8pm

Tuesday

Stowmarket FC 7-8pm

Wednesday

Kesgrave Community Centre 7-8pm

Thursday

Debenham Leisure Centre 6.30-7.30pm

AFC Sudbury 7-8pm

Friday

Bungay FC 7-8pm

Woodbridge FC 7-8pm

All Courses start from September 8.