Goalkeeping: Playing second fiddle

I think that we have all been there at some point in our careers, whether it be for just the one game or an entire season or two – just ask Steve Harper! But the very nature of our isolated position means that one of the squad goalkeepers will be on the bench!

The desolation felt when the manager names the team, and you’re not in it, is second to no other feeling in football – put in simplistic terms it is downright horrible! Even when we are totally honest with our self appraisal and acknowledge that the other goalkeeper slightly has the edge over us, the bitter pill of rejection is still an incredibly hard one to swallow.

So how do we cope with it?

There is no magic wand in football that can help us to push on despite the rejection, no amount of consoling words can ever do justice to the annoyance felt; and often this is compounded by the Manager as sometimes they simply do not have the opportunity nor time to explain why you aren’t involved. If you are involved with full time football then this is inexcusable, however for the millions of part time and grass roots players, they must accept the Managers decision and simply keep their head down, be professional on the Match Day and ask the manager at a convenient time.

I remember well one personal example, and am now embarrassed at my reaction however that was my personality at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and experience has taught me acceptance and knowledge of the position the manager was in.

We’d had a good pre-season, and both myself and the other goalkeeper had been sharing duties throughout, but I had been given the most game time and had been told directly from the Manager that I would be the starter. I had no reason to doubt this so when the first league game came round (bizarrely on a Tuesday night!) I prepared as I normally did….

…and then the Manager ran through the team when we were all assembled in the changing room. BOOM! I am now embarrassed to say that my head went, I felt betrayed and seriously let down by the man I trusted most. I simmered away as I slowly got changed, the slaps on the shoulders and cajoling words from my team mates were of no use, they merely fuelled the fire inside me.

I waited for the lads to all empty the changing room for their warm up and then alone with the Manager and Physio; I kicked off! Let’s simply say that there is a changing room in Norfolk that has imprints of size 10 Puma Kings in the showers!

I had to accept that I had been benched, and had to respect the Managers decision (which I did, just not the way I found out!). I resolved there and then to graft even harder in training than I had ever done before, as there was no way I wasn’t going to compete for my place. If I see things as a personal challenge then I will win, regardless of how long or how exhausting it is, I will keep going until I have conquered the challenge.

As a full time goalkeeper coach, I have worked very closely with lads that have to play second fiddle and my advice is always the same: rise to the challenge, keep your head down and train like you have never trained before. If there is an endurance run then make sure that you are at the front, if you are doing circuits then make sure that you are working the hardest and never give up. Make it impossible for the gaffer to overlook you, and when you do get the chance then make it impossible for him to drop you!

Maintain your professionalism, though there is no harm in showing your emotion (by kicking the shower walls!) but always hold your head high, do things properly and never roll over and accept the decision. See it as an inconvenience and not as an insult and be prepared to take your chance.