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THE MAGAZINE FOR THE GOALKEEPING PROFESSION

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CHRISTMAS 2016

HEATON

Equipment Catapult OptimEye G5 Coaching James Hollman - ProDeflect Creating Champions Simply the best Interview OBE Featuring: Adrián CHRISTMAS 2016 1 – City FC &

2 CHRISTMAS 2016 Welcome to The magazine exclusively for the professional goalkeeping community.

- Andy Evans client list of top class goalkeepers delighted to join our goalkeeper Editor’s note specialist agency. Welcome to the Christmas Existing clients continue to shine as our GK1 ‘Champions Club’ 2016 edition of GK1 continues to grow. Having excelled in the Champions League, Craig Magazine - the magazine Gordon has added the to the SPL title won last for the professional season; Peter Gulacsi has starred in the newly promoted RB Leipzig goalkeeping market. side that entered the Xmas period top of the Bundesliga; Wes To celebrate the 5th Foderingham lifted the Scottish Division 1 title whilst Conrad Logan anniversary of the new entered Hibernian folklore winning the after a 114 year format of the GK1 magazine wait! Tom Heaton has continued his Championship winning form (first published in 2000), we into this season - not only adding England full caps but leading the have compiled some of our FAPL chart for GK performance statistics. Andy Evans / Editor-in-Chief of GK1 and Chairman of ltd most popular features from Talking of statistics, we have cemented our place at the cutting previous editions into a ‘ GK1 Christmas Special’! edge of the intellectual side of agency and recruitment, establishing GK1 Magazine is published by GK1 Management, the goalkeeper our own in-house specialist goalkeeper ‘Statistics and Analysis specific and specialist agency, which is a wholly owned subsidiary Department’ under the leadership of Sam Jackson, whose work is of World in Motion Group, a leading global agency specialising in receiving widespread acclaim. Additionally, our tailor-made internal representing professional football players. ‘App’ which brings all our global agents, players and clubs together on In the past year the agency has extended its already far reaching one platform facilitating the transfer and recruitment of goalkeepers network by opening offices in exciting new territories such as USA, and coaches, is the envy of clubs and rival agencies alike. Colombia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia. Here’s to a prosperous and successful 2017! With GK1 Each office launch has been accompanied by an expanding Management on your side, your future is in safe hands.

CONTENTS

GK1 Management, Tom Heaton 4 How did he do that? 24 Chancery House, Burnley’s first player The greatest saves of all time to be called up by England 1 Lochaline Street, Exclusive Interview: 26 in 41 years London, W6 9SJ Safe as the Banks of England [email protected] Coaching Corner 8 Gordon Banks OBE Featuring: Tel: +(44) 208 741 6060 Essential Equipment 29 Art or science? Catapult OptimEye G5 www.gk1.co.uk an indispensible guide to saving Publisher: a spot kick James Hollman 30 ProDeflect World In Motion ltd Adrián 12 Editor-in-Chief: An interview by Begoña Pérez It’s us against them! 34 Andy Evans Bob Wilson on the difficulties Creating Champions 16 of modern goalkeeping Deputy Editor: Best in the business Cover image - Press Association Sam Jackson A tribute to Adam 37 Health and Fitness 18 Remembering a former colleague Commercial Editor: Pilates as practiced by Rob Green William Pethybridge Meet the team 38 Steve Woods/Craig Gordon 20 Graphic Design: World in Motion / GK1 personnel Coming back stronger Tim Alexander

CHRISTMAS 2016 3 Press Association

4 CHRISTMAS 2016 Tom Heaton The first Burnley player to be called up by England for 41 years

“No idea whatsoever,” Tom Heaton at Burnley, having managed to pick to be in and around it. I’m thoroughly says of his first call-up to the England up the Player of the Year award at the enjoying it and I hope it continues. I’ll squad in July this year. Aged 24, five club. It was an incredible moment, keep trying to learn from it, get better years ago, GK1 client Heaton was the highlight of the season for me, and hopefully keep performing.” let go by Manchester United after obviously.” Yet the rise to the top has been a thirteen years at the club. Yet he has Superlatives become hard to find, “it rollercoaster one for the former United quickly ascended again, awarded was fantastic.” Yet that determination man. Burnley’s Player of the Year trophy to keep learning is obvious. “I was In 2006, having enjoyed a successful last season before manager Sean delighted to be there but wanted to stint at Swindon Town, Heaton was Dyche handed him the armband for make sure that I did myself justice and flown out to Belgium to United’s feeder the Clarets ahead of the 2015/16 looked to get better while I was there, club Royal Antwerp. While in Antwerp, season. and learn as much as I could.” more famous for its port than its Heaton is the first Burnley player “Obviously the standard’s very, football and with a population similar for 41 years (since Martin Dobson in very high. It’s the best players in the to that of some London boroughs, 1974) to be called up for England, and country coming together.” He says Heaton came to the realisation that he the only Sky Bet Championship player that the nature of the England squad needed to adapt himself to succeed, in the current England squad, getting reflects in training, “I’ve certainly found with or without United. his third consecutive call-up for the that in the goalkeeping department, “I came away that summer [2006] October Internationals with Estonia and having worked with Joe [Hart] and Jack having not played there and did a real Lithuania. Butland, Rob Green in the previous trip big assessment of where I was at, and “It was obviously a fantastic and the coach.” realised I needed to step things up and moment, I was absolutely over the “There’s certainly a lot of high probably step things up off the pitch moon,” he recalls of the first call-up. standards there, it’s great to be involved in terms of lifestyle. Outside the walls Heaton aimed for and it’s nice to be on that stage really. of Man United I needed to make sure

Press Association return after being released by United It certainly reminds me, the tempo of I was getting things right so if those “When I left Man United, the aim it, of Man United training back from walls were taken away I was still able was to get back to the Premier League when I was a bit younger with the first to perform and produce at any football and it’s certainly been a good season team [in 2007/08]. I have to say it’s great club that I went to. That was a massive

CHRISTMAS 2016 5 learning curve for me.” To get European Championships, choosing Loan spells followed at QPR, to push through a loan to Swindon Rochdale and a doomed relegation Town instead. “To get that first step dogfight with Wycombe Wanderers that first on the ladder, which I think the one in all in a turbulent 12 month period, 2005 was for me, the Swindon one, is and all in the year after he travelled step on the not easy to come by. You look at the to Moscow as part of a victorious 24 standard in my position, goalkeeping, man Manchester United squad that ladder is not throughout the league. It’s very high, lifted the Champions League. you’re playing with people’s livelihood Currently in English football, so every game means something. For there is an obvious overuse of the easy to someone to take a chance on you loan system, with big clubs abusing then, having never done it before, the system and offloading young come by having not been out on loan, I was players, English and foreign, as fast very fortunate. The manager Andy as possible. Heaton was an early “not all positive”, Heaton thinks that King (who sadly passed away in example of the consistent use of the loan “you need those building blocks of your 2015) and the assistant at the time, system, but he sees it as a vital factor in career, to build the foundation, which Ian Woan, who is now amazingly the the upbringing of him as a player and there is no substitute for.” assistant manager at Burnley ten years person. Even though some moves like In 2005, Heaton pulled out of on, I’m very grateful for that chance. I the 5 months at Antwerp in 2006 were the England under-19 squad for the think it’s a vital ingredient to build the

PA

6 CHRISTMAS 2016 PA foundation of your career on, the loan few times. So when the call then came the backroom of the club as well as experience for me was brilliant.” to sign at Burnley, it was a no-brainer players there. So strange but a nice Those days are gone, for now at for me. I wanted to play for him [Dyche] feeling. When I left my aim was to get least, for Heaton. After making forty and then from then on really he set us back to the Premier League and be appearances for Cardiff City, including all out as you’ve seen, we had a lot of playing so it was nice to do that, a great many in their route to the League belief. We were super fit and the squad feeling walking out at and Cup Final (defeated on penalties by got better and better as time has gone you know it’s certainly a good memory ) , Heaton was allowed to on. So, yes, it was no surprise in the for me.” leave on a free transfer. did, four walls for us that we managed to Heaton felt at home at Old Trafford in fact, sign him then. “It’s interesting snowball it and be successful that year, and has quickly found his feet within that the year before, I signed at Bristol albeit I think there was probably a few the England set-up. ‘’I’ve got my foot City after I left Cardiff. I actually signed surprises on the outside of the club.” in the door and I want to make sure for the manager [Dyche] when he was And that promotion with Burnley I make an impact. It’s fantastic to be Watford manager. Unfortunately, there meant an inevitable return to Old here for myself, the goalkeeping coach, was a little bit of a snag when the new Trafford for Heaton: “It was quite a the manager, the staff and everyone owners took over, he was sacked and strange feeling that. On one hand it connected with the club. I had a bit of my deal got torn up.” was a great to go back, strange in some grief off Gary Neville at the start saying “So I had an inkling about what he ways. I signed as an 11 year old and left I’m supposed to be quiet as a new was about, I’d spent the day with him as a 24 year old. I spent a lot of time addition to the squad but that’s not my and spoke to him on the phone quite a there, knew an awful lot of people in way!’’.

CHRISTMAS 2016 7 COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING Saving Penalties Art or Science?

Some say it’s an art, others insist it’s a precise discipline. Either way, this month, GK1 looks at the evidence to see if there really is an indispensible guide to saving a spot kick.

8 CHRISTMAS 2016 COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER

he casino barons of Las Vegas wearing red and then had the same ‘keeper couldn’t get away with loading change his shirt to a coloured one. After the dice against you as much all the penalties had been taken he saw as this! For heaven’s sake, that only 54% of penalties were scored The’s only 12 yards away! No defenders against the keeper in red as opposed to to worry about, time on his side and 69%, 72% and 75% against ‘keepers wearing just you, with a hope and the occasional yellow, blue and green shirts respectively. prayer to stop what four times out of five, Considering only 20% of all penalties are is the inevitable...a goal. saved in professional football this increase in The boffins working on behalf of the save percentage by wearing red is certainly penalty takers reckon they’ve devised the not to be sniffed at. But, red is not a colour perfect penalty: one which no keeper, commonly worn by goalkeepers in England. however agile, however focused, however In the 2010/11 Premier League season no lucky, has the proverbial ‘cat in hell’s chance’ goalkeeper wore red. of saving! Sadly, having worn red winning the All it takes is a run up of 5 or 6 paces, World Cup back in 1966, it’s likely to be a approaching the ball at an angle of 20 to 30 long time before England’s GK1 wears red! degrees, kicking it at 65 mph, crossing the line 50 cms below crossbar and inside the Stand Off-Centre post, unstoppable! In theory it makes no sense... Well, with all due respect, GK1 scoffs at 2 but every keeper’s tried a the theory of a perfect penalty! Our research version of this at one time has gathered together the thoughts of some or another. Researchers in of the finest scientific, psychological and Hong Kong learnt that if a ‘keeper stands a good old fashioned footballing brains to small distance closer to one post than the give you the optimum chance to become other it may not be obvious to the kicker this weekend’s penalty hero! but subconsciously the penalty taker knows which side has a larger target area and will Seeing Red tend to shoot that way. Armed with this Since the late 1890’s, when information the ‘keeper is in a stronger 1 keepers first wore a different position to dive to the larger area and can coloured-jersey, green has increase his chance of saving the kick. been the predominant colour Researchers found that by moving just of choice. But latest research from the 10cm towards one side of the goal and University of Chichester confirms green making one side of the goal 3% bigger, is the least successful colour to wear and the goalkeeper can increase his chance of actually red should be the ‘must have’ colour saving the penalty by as much as 15% even in every goalkeepers’ wardrobe this Spring. before the kicker begins his run up. Award-winning psychologist, Dr Iain Greenlees found that ‘keepers in green What to Watch For saved one in four spot kicks compared to Away from Far Eastern the ones in red who saved almost half! 3 philosophies into the football- His studies noted that red is seen as mad city of Liverpool - and no a signal of danger in the natural world surprise their boffins have had and therefore penalty takers notice the little better to do than spend valuable hours goalkeeper more easily. It encourages a researching football! But Mark Williams, from natural fear of failure and makes the ‘keeper the John Moores University, believes he’s look bigger in the goal than he would stumbled upon a treasure trove for keepers in wearing a different colour. need of all the help they can get. He used 40 football players and asked He reckons in the time between them to take 10 penalties against a ‘keeper the award of the penalty to the spot

CHRISTMAS 2016 9 COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING

kick taking place, there’s a gold mine of “We do many things on two levels, such information to be gleaned to help predict as thinking where to put the ball (or where where a penalty taker will shoot. to fake it), but not thinking about what the He saw how more experienced feet, legs and body will do to achieve it.” goalkeepers considered such elements as So, the more the pressure, the more his standing leg, kicking leg and hips for the likely they are to disguise where they’re opponent. planning to aim? He believes by looking at the ‘shape’ a “The more we practise, the more our player adopts before taking the penalty the actions become automatic skills,” explains ‘keeper can stop penalty saving from being Peter. a lottery. “They become unconscious memories “From the point of view of the player of how to react. These memories take over taking the penalty the optimal position for when thinking fails, such as in front of Ashley Barnes - Photo by Paul Hazlewood the standing foot is facing directly down the 80,000 fans.” middle of the goal,” said Professor Williams. “In a penalty kicking competition the “When the goalkeeper saw the penalty Increase their Anxiety only thing that threatens success is the taker’s foot face towards the left or right Levels goalkeeper, so we monitor his movements.” hand side of the goal it allowed the ‘keeper No one’s expecting you to save The research proved that if a kicker’s the necessary information to predict where 4 the penalty, so why worry? The eyes are drawn to the goalkeeper, he tends the penalty would be taken. Standing stress and the strain are all on to shoot in that direction and overcoming foot points left, penalty going to the left; the shoulders of the taker. For this tendency was significantly harder when standing foot points right, penalty goes to decades now, keepers have employed less penalty takers were under pressure, or in a the right hand side of the goal.” than gentlemanly time-wasting techniques. “threat condition”. The research was backed up with the Few have done so more successfully than ol’ And as Grobbelaar appeared to know help of the nation’s most successful penalty spaghetti legs himself, Bruce Grobelaar. instinctively, goalkeepers can make taker, , who converted a Researchers at Exeter University believe themselves more likely to attract the staggering 49 of the 50 penalties he took. his crazy antics in Liverpool’s 1984 European kicker’s gaze by appearing larger than life or “My approach to penalties was always Cup final victory against AS Roma are the clowning around. the same. Pick my favourite spot and focus perfect example of how to become ‘a threat’ The same tactic was used to good effect on the strike of the ball. I never thought I to someone with plenty on their plate by a later Liverpool goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek was giving away any clues to the ‘keeper but already. Frankly, the last thing they need, is who copied Grobbelaar’s spaghetti legs it looks like I was wrong!’ you showing off! routine and saved two penalties in the 2005 Psychologist Peter Naish agrees that the “The research shows that we focus on Champions League final against AC Milan to signs are there if you look closely enough. things in the environment that we find win the match. “Penalty takers mention not thinking too threatening,” said psychologist Greg Wood, “During a highly stressful situation, we deeply, yet trying to fool the goalkeeper,” he who led the study at the University’s School are more likely to be distracted by any said. of Sport and Health Sciences. threatening stimuli and focus on them rather than the task in hand,” said Greg. “So, when a penalty taker is about to start his run up naturally he will focus on the goalkeeper rather than spaces all around him. This disrupts the aiming of the shot and increases the likelihood of subsequently hitting the shot towards the goalkeeper, making it easier to save.’ This school of thought is echoed by football watchers and supporters. They all say ‘pick a spot, stick to it and ignore the ‘keeper.’ So there is another piece of information a ‘keeper might be able to pick up on, the attacker’s eyes, is he looking Petr Cech

10 CHRISTMAS 2016 COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER COACHING CORNER

one way? Can you distract him? If you can is on the penalty taker, rather than you. You get him to focus on you and not his spot Colour of Goalkeeper’s Top can try and add to that pressure by delaying then there is a greater chance he will take a Goals Conceded the penalty as long as possible. I’m not sure penalty which can be saved. how well it works because you do still need More interestingly, keepers can learn a 72% to have a bit of luck. great deal from the advice given to penalty 69% takers by sports psychologists. 75% There’s only one safe bet! “I would tell penalty takers to pretend The best news of all is that, you are in a practice match, look at where thankfully, your opponent you are going to hit the ball and aim it 54% 6 rarely produces the perfect there. Totally ignore the goalkeeper. Even if penalty. And armed with GK1’s he knows where the ball is going he is not research, we hope you’ll be going to get to it if it is well placed.” Sound footer. If I get the instinct to go the other saving even more penalties this season! advice - but perhaps the key indicator way, however, then I’ll go with it. The academics certainly think so. Surely, if a to keepers that distraction, showing off, “I know it sounds obvious, but always ‘keeper wears red, stands to one side, waves waving your arms, knees, legs, frankly make sure you dive. In the past I’ve been his arms, watches your eyes and notices anything you can get your hands on, will tempted to stand up straight and hope your standing foot pointing in one direction increase your chances of success. it gets blasted down the middle. I tried it then it must be impossible to score a once when Leicester City’s Matt Elliott was penalty isn’t it? Forget the rest...and ask going through a phase of just smashing We’d all love to be able to guarantee the best. them. When he placed it past me, I wished success. There are “lies, damned lies and All fine in practice, you may I’d at least dived. That way, even if it does go statistics”, but as we all know, there’s only 5 say. But these academics down the middle, it could still hit your legs. one safe bet when it comes down to would have you believe “You have to face the fact that some penalties and that’s when the Germans are that penalty saving is not a players are virtually impossible to save, so playing: they’re 100 per cent likely to win. complex art, merely a simple science? it’s just trusting to luck. Eric Cantona was like But a PhD can’t give you any idea of that. He used to wait for you to dive before One or two penalties worth another look: what it’s like for keepers at the highest level he took it. I’ve been told he used to practise l http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ waiting for the ref’s whistle to blow. it in training. He would wait until the last Gi98iEziKQ&feature=player_embedded One man who would, however, is the second before he struck it and was so good l http://www.youtube.com/ Premier League’s most successful penalty that he could change his mind at the last watch?v=1XuEGHHoZGM&feature=related saver, . Having faced 14 minute if he needed to. l http://www.youtube.com/ penalties, he saved 8; a save percentage “You have to remember that the pressure watch?v=xMjBPwUzcvg of 57%. The average in the Premier League is 28%. “I like to know who my opponents’ penalty taker is before a match. I always look at which side he put his last one and whether he favours that side or likes to vary it, in which case it becomes a guessing game,” reveals Mark. “I don’t think there’s a system of ‘reading the eyes’ so always just concentrate on the ball on the run-up. “Always trust your instincts. If I’m facing a right-footed player I usually go to my left and the opposite if it’s a left- Tom Heaton

CHRISTMAS 2016 11 12 CHRISTMAS 2016 Press Association Adrián San Interview by Begoña Pérez exclusively for GK1 Miguel

fter 16 long years league, he positioned himself as one of the fans and my teammates. I took my at his boyhood the most coveted goalkeepers in the chances in the FA Cup and the Capital club, Real Betis, Premier League. Ironically, Betis got One Cup, I grabbed that opportunity Adrián San Miguel relegated that season, a painful outcome and people started to acknowledge my was only afforded for Adrián who is a proud fan of the club, work. I am proud of the status I have the opportunity like his dad Manuel, a greengrocer and achieved after hard work”. Ato play regular first football in Spain’s a passionate bético. He swapped very He renewed his contract at the top flight during his last season with different cultures, but both West Ham beginning of October and is happy the verdiblancos. When preferred and Betis share one familiar territory for to re-engage himself to a club with goalkeeper Casto Espinosa received a him: dedicated fans. promising prospects. “The Chairmen red card against Malaga in September “There are many teams in London are now preparing for the next step 2012, Adrián stepped in and gained the but West Ham is the club of the working to compete at the same level with confidence of his manager at the time, class people, the brave team with great other London teams. We are moving former West Bromwich Albion coach, history. And we have outstanding to the Olympic Stadium, with 55,000 Pepe Mel. supporters. There are thousands of fans spectators I am sure we will fill the Betis ended that campaign in away games travelling from London”, seats, saying goodbye to Upton Park… successfully qualifying for the Europa he admits in an exclusive interview for We are looking forward to having a League, but it wasn’t enough for Adri GK1. ambitious team next year”. to feel wanted at his beloved club. His Adrián recognises that changing Another new step Adrián is in favour contract expired and he was offered clubs was a ‘hard step’ at first. “It was a of his the appointment of Slaven Bilic a new one that showed him how the difficult decision but now I can say it as manager. “Since he arrived he has board was more interested in recruiting was the right one. I have grown up as tried to transmit his ideal view and the talent from abroad than embracing professional and as a person”. team has adapted quite well to him, but a canterano they had groomed The love is mutual. West Ham fans also he should take credit for adapting themselves. have embraced him as one of their himself to the players at his disposal. At least his eleven clean sheets in most charismatic players. “Everything After a good start, we are doing things 31 leagues starts did not go unnoticed. went quite well from the start. I in the right way. It is not a coincidence welcomed him at West was substitute in the beginning as that we are in a good position in the Ham in the summer of 2013 and after Jaaskelainen was the nº 1 goalkeeper. table,” added the 28-year-old ‘keeper, a few months of adjusting to a new I had to earn the trust of the manager, speaking to GK1 in October.

CHRISTMAS 2016 13 Having adapted well to the English into that game having just served a That was the game when Mourinho game, it is no surprise to see Adrián three match suspension and it was not claimed we played 19th century answer eloquently when asked about easy for him to face the likes of Agüero, football (smiles) but we actually gave the challenging pace and the physical Sterling and Yaya Touré after a month our best to save ourselves. And I will approach of the Premier League. Is it on the sidelines. He finished the game always remember the FA Cup game more difficult here to be a goalkeeper with a well-deserved Man of the Match against Everton when I had to score the than in Spain? “It is not more difficult, award as the Hammers’ maintained winning penalty last season”. but it is different”, he assures. “You have their outstanding away form. When asked about what to be much more aware of high goalkeepers he admires the most in balls, players are more threatening the Premier League, the first name in the 6-yard box and the games he mentions is Jussi Jaaskelainen, are more ‘ida y vuelta’ (box-to-box), the man he ousted as the club’s they risk long shots from long No 1 goalie. Behind the scenes, distance. You have to be more he was actually a mentor for the ready in every action. In Spain they Spaniard during his adaptation try to play more from the back, process to English football. with the feet, the action starts “There are good goalkeepers in sometimes from the goalkeeper. So the Premier League, but since I you have to be learning different arrived to West Ham I paid a lot qualities”. of attention to Jussi. Despite his His compatriots age, his experience, after so many and De Gea struggled to adjust seasons in this competition, he was themselves in the untested territory a hard-working professional. The of English football, but Adrián first one to arrive to the training claims it was not so complicated ground and the last to leave. He for him. “To be honest, I adapted helped me a lot. Apart from being myself quite well since I arrived. a great goalkeeper, he is a great My teammates helped me a lot. guy. Having the support of a senior Maybe high balls was the most Adrián celebrates after scoring the winning player like him was very important penalty against Everton in last season’s FA Cup (PA) difficult challenge. In every corner, I to me”. was pushed, elbowed, tackled, and He also points out , the referees didn’t blow the whistle. “Since I arrived, I have had quite a “he is in a great form”, and . So you have to make yourself stronger, few good performances. Manchester “They both are in their best moment, get experience of these scenarios and City away was one of the best ones, Courtois had a great last season but be more clever and quicker to avoid considering they are a big side and now he is injured and that has stopped mistakes”. they hadn’t lost a game in the league his progression. I don’t forget De Gea, Now he has established himself as until that fixture. But I do remember but he has shown what he is capable of one of the most reliable goalkeepers other good games like the one against during a few seasons, not only one. He in the Premier League, having excelled Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in my first is enjoying a great level and he is still in memorable performances like his season. We draw 0-0 and we took a showing it”. Adrián insists he never had club’s superb recent victory away at valuable point to avoid relegation and a specific idol when he was a child, but Manchester City. Adrián came back finish the season in a good position. followed the likes of Oliver Kahn, Peter

14 CHRISTMAS 2016 it could happen at some point”. But living in a foreign country it is also an advantage. He talks passionately about his life in London, where he lives with his wife while they expect the arrival of their first child, Enzo. “Maybe the weather is the hardest thing”, he jokes. “On a personal level, I have had my wife’s help with the language, she speaks quite well [she previously lived in Ireland and Scotland]. Now I cope quite well with the language. It is very important to develop myself as a person and as professional”. “What I like most about London is its variety. You can do whatever you feel Adrián saves an attempt by Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (PA) like at any moment: restaurants, gigs, Schmeichel and . “As than West Ham. But I am training and theatre, football games. It is a great city, I grew up, I admired the great cantera playing, trying my best to make it I am lucky to live near central London of Spanish goalkeepers we had and we possible. I hope it will happen in the in Canary Wharf and there are many still have, like Íker Casillas, Víctor Valdés, future if I work well and constantly, as I possibilities. It is city that never sleeps!”. Pepe Reina… and an endless number of have done since I arrived, with the hope them I could still mention”. Does he find any common reason in goalkeepers’ coaching in Spain behind such a successful generation of shot stoppers? “There is good work behind the scenes. And also the way the game is played in Spain helps the goalkeeper feel as an extra player on the pitch. It is important that the goalie feels part of the team and participates in the group.” It is no secret that Adrián would love to play for the national team. His impressive form has alerted Vicente Del Bosque, but he admits it is quite difficult to be offered that opportunity when you ply your trade overseas. “It is true that playing abroad could be an obstacle. But that makes you try even harder. If you play in a top team in the Celebrating West Ham’s second goal against City earlier this year (PA) league, maybe you have more chances

CHRISTMAS 2016 15 Creating Champions

Peter Gulacsi: Top of the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, December 2016

Tom Heaton: Nominated for Premier Craig Gordon: Won the 2015/16 Scottish League October Player of the Month Premiership and 2016/17 Scottish League Cup

16 CHRISTMAS 2016 Alex Smithies: QPR Player of the Month, Wes Foderingham: Won the 2015/16 November 2016 with Rangers

Bill Hamid: Nominated for MLS June Player of the Month

CHRISTMAS 2016 17 HEALTH & FITNESS PILATES as practiced by A well kept secret since the 1940’s, Pilates has evolved into a unique “workout” method which has been used by dancers in the past but is now playing a key role in many injury rehabilitation programmes in sport and general fitness.

ilates, as an exercise approach, their strength and conditioning and it is very strength, movement control and places a specific emphasis on capable of challenging even professional proprioception. movement control targeting football players. Many athletes develop the body the deep stabilising muscles Initially the Pilates instructor will address asymmetrically, as when a tennis or golf Pof the trunk which support the spine. the specific needs and capabilities of the player develop a strong “forward” arm, Research has suggested that the deep individual client, targeting the muscle a goalkeeper will sometimes develop a muscle system is preferentially inhibited imbalances and realigning the body to stronger stance leg for the kicking and take- in people with low back pain (LBP) and improve efficient movement patterns. off. Pilates balances the body’s development management strategies have been Intrinsic to this approach is the instructor’s by addressing such asymmetries. effective in addressing these problems knowledge of the specific demands and in reducing LBP. imposed on the movement control of the A goalkeeper’s personal individual client. perspective on pilates A goalkeeper’s role is unique Robert Green and his physical and athletic

qualities are different from “ fter rupturing my groin in other members of his team 2006, it was recommended and require specific training. A A that I do pilates as a supplementary session to my regular key requirement is directional training. As, like most goalkeepers, movement change within a I had always been trained in using small area, therefore he must the larger muscle groups needed for be agile in his movements explosive movements, but never the with quick reflexes. In short, a smaller and supporting muscles. goalkeeper must be a complete I find the sessions intense, focussing athlete. on small movements that are relevant but also completely different from, A goalkeeper needs to and more detailed than my daily co-ordinate movements of routines. I also feel the workout gives the upper limbs with excellent me a stretch that I wouldn’t handling skills, combining gain from any post session this with strength exercises. Initially movements are slow and and stability of the trunk Since starting pilates I have found that I have retained my original precise, with the focus on correct breathing and lower limbs. This strength, whilst cutting down on mass patterns and realigning the body with good skill requirement and improving my core. I have also movement control so that the client leaves demands a experienced movement in parts of my feeling rejuvenated and relaxed rather than combination lumbar spine for the first time in over exhausted and with an enhanced awareness of fifteen years! Most importantly, I have of their own unique movement signature. stayed injury free since rupturing my Pilates is becoming very popular groin nearly nine years ago.” with athletes and for many good reasons. It compliments Written by Karen Cowell - Body Control Pilates Teacher other aspects of

18 CHRISTMAS 2016 CHRISTMAS 2016 19 20 CHRISTMAS 2016 GORDON

WOODS AND WOODS THREE YEARS ago, GK1 client, Craig Gordon was suffering from a debilitating knee injury that was threatening his career at Sunderland was being doubted by men of medicine, such was the difficulty in diagnosing the intricate problem. He’s now in such fine form at Celtic, embracing Europa League football and the Player of the Season award he received from the Scottish Football Writers Association, that his goalie coach Stevie Woods believes he could not just return to his former lofty standards, but surpass them. The turnaround for the Scotland keeper has been huge. If the NO.1 slot is the loneliest in a football team, it is even more desolate when you have spent two years out with a seemingly incurable problem and been left without a club. But, after some ground-breaking treatments, a show of faith at Celtic, a new training ethos and immeasurable amounts of courage and dedication, Gordon is now, once again, very much part of a team and part of something special in Glasgow. “We have a philosophy here where we want players to feel safe and in control and we say it to all of our goalkeepers,” Woods explained. “What we have said to Craig from day one is; do not train for two hours at 70 per cent and expect to improve. Give us 100 per cent for as long as you can, be truthful with the coaches as they will be with you, and if that’s five minute then that’s fine. We will build on that the next day or week or session. That was easy for Craig to adapt to.

#safehands CHRISTMAS 2016 21 “The first session we ever did with full games and then made to think his agonising knee injury Craig, when he came in for a fitness left and we decided to go forward for might be psychosomatic, played 52 assessment, was just 25 minutes at the season with Craig. He completely times and kept a record 28 clean sheets full pelt and then he said ‘I feel good, I deserved to get the jersey and it’s been in his first season at Celtic. am going to stop now, I don’t want to completely the right decision.” This summer, as a just reward, he push it.’ As a coach I totally respected Between December and February signed a new deal under manager that and as I got to know Craig I know last season, Gordon kept eight Ronny Deila and at 32 he is still implicitly that he is telling the truth and consecutive clean sheets. He won the learning, growing and adjusting to not just trying to get out of training. Scottish League Cup with a clean sheet changes, like his new-look defence and “From that day he felt safe and in in every round. He completed the his manager’s decision to employ zonal control and then we were able to build Double that May when he was crowned marking at defensive set-pieces. And, on that. Then he went into friendlies a League champion. The goalkeeper finally, Gordon and his coach are able when he played the odd half, then once left in the wilderness and almost to celebrate their incredible rebuilding

22 CHRISTMAS 2016 project, although the Lazarus-like return came as no surprise to old-hand Woods. “It never surprised me that Craig got back to this level because if you get to know him you know what those two years out of football mean to him and how hungry he is now to play. “He’s a total professional and he believes when you cross the white line all excuses go. He always had the ability to get back to where he was, but we soon decided to re-evaluate that because we then realised we might be able to get him to somewhere even better. Getting him back to the level he was at previously was something he had done before and our goal was to take him to next level.” Woods concedes that Gordon is not the loudest of keepers and it’s a trait he has no interest in trying to force on to the former Heart of Midlothian man. Instead he concentrates on the fact he leads by exemplary example and uses his lowest ebb as motivation to be the best keeper he can be with a hunger unmatched. “He fulfills every criteria required of a top keeper,” Woods said. “He doesn’t have a weakness in his game and you’ll be hard pressed to find a 32 year-old with his desire not to ever miss another match.”

CHRISTMAS 2016 23 How did he do that?

GK1 asks a select group of the nation’s top goalkeeping coaches for their Top 5 great saves of all time.

24 CHRISTMAS 2016 headquarters striker Rivaldo. Ridiculous really. www. more than three yards out. Goal? With the and as per usual, youtube.com/watch?v=iieYg7Sm8FM Scottish keeper stranded following the GK1opinions were penalty box pinball you’d have thought flying back and forth across the office as Peter Schmeichel: Rapid so. Yet with the Bolton fans starting to to the greatest save of all time. Prompted Vienna v Manchester United, celebrate, the mighty Scot managed to by Craig Gordon’s miraculous save for 4 Champions League, 1996 incredibly stretch a giant arm backwards, Sunderland against Bolton, the current Celtic Similar in several ways to our put it under the ball, and scoop the ball number 1’s save was voted “Best Save in FAPL winner. Schmeichel pulled off a save to out from under the bar. www.youtube. history”, we were extolling the virtues of a rank alongside Banks’ legendary stop com/watch?v=PqAmG3xK9_Y host of famous saves, some old, some new. from Pele in the World Cup in 1970 as Enter, GK1 editor Andy Evans to restore United beat Rapid Vienna 2-0 to go into Jim Montgomery: Sunderland v order before concluding there’s only one the quarter finals of the European Cup. He Leeds United, FA Cup Final 1973 solution! went down to his right and defied logic 2 Jim’s effort would have to come And so to kick off your latest edition, GK1 by scooping the ball up and somehow close to winning, were this a has surveyed a group of top goalkeeping over the bar from Rapid’s Rene Wagner. ‘double-save’ competition. The first save is coaches to bring you the Top Five jaw- Banks once said: “It was as good as mine good, but the second has near paranormal dropping, eye-bulging, gravity-defying against Pele.’’ Sorry Gordon, but our qualities. Commentator Brian Moore takes saves of all time. judges beg to differ! www.youtube.com/ a while to realise it’s not a goal. Monty’s (In reverse order:) watch?v=UZvJ8GT73rM efforts coupled with Ian Porterfield’s goal Gregory Coupet: Barcelona v combined to cause one of the great FA Cup Lyon, Champions League, 1999 Craig Gordon: Sunderland upsets of all time. www.youtube.com/ 5 After just two minutes at the Nou v Bolton, Premier League watch?v=PZmFoo4payA Camp the Lyon keeper pulled 3 December 2010 out one of the all-time great stops as he With just a few seconds left Gordon Banks. England v Brazil first acrobatically headed an unintended at the end of the first half Bolton won World Cup 1970 lobbed backpass by a defender onto his a corner. headed into the 1 Turn the page for more… own crossbar, and then immediately parried danger area before Zat Knight smacked www.youtube.com/ a close header by the arriving Barcelona a shot towards a gaping goal from little watch?v=ngE9RCAdWaE

Craig Gordon’s wonder save against Bolton, December 2010 CHRISTMAS 2016 25 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Gordon Banks Safe as the Banks of England During England’s glory years, the No1 jersey belonged to Gordon Banks OBE. For some, possibly the game’s finest exponent of the art of goalkeeping. Banks has received endless accolades - not to mention a World Cup winners’ medal - but he knows he’ll always be best remembered not for one season, one tournament or even one game - but for one save...that just happened to be the greatest save of all time!

ore than forty years on, following GK1’s canvas of opinions, we had the pleasure of congratulatingM Gordon, who took time out to recall the memories of the day he wrote his name into footballing folklore in the sweltering heat of Guadalajara.

‘Gol’ “It’s true,” recalls Gordon. “He shouted ‘Gol’ as he headed it!” It had taken the greatest player of all time to bring out the very best from the finest ‘keeper these shores have ever produced. Not one to use a dozen words, when one or two will do, Banks warms to the topic as the memories of that roasting-hot day - and a very special pair of gloves - come flooding back. “To be honest, I thought it had gone

26 CHRISTMAS 2016 in! But as soon as I realised I’d kept it out, I knew I’d done something a bit different,” says the typically modest Yorkshireman.

Hot and Bothered “Everything that day was in Brazil’s favour. It was a midday kick off. The only shadows were around your feet and it was 102 degrees out on a rock-hard pitch. In the team-talk, Alf (Ramsey) told us to keep possession and hold off from sprinting until the final third otherwise we’d be dead by half time.” From the start, Banks watched on as the World Cup holders struggled to cope with the flair and pace of the tournament favourites, Brazil. Yet even prior to that great day, the Brazilians had the upper-hand, thanks to some under-hand tactics from the locals. Banks with Brazil legend Pelé “Brazil had been in town for a couple of that little fella Tostão was unmarked on the 77-year-old, who now travels to Liverpool to weeks, handing out little flags, meeting and near post!” sit on the weekend Pools Panel. greeting the locals,” recalls Banks, who kept Like so many great keepers, Banks relied on “Because I was diving backwards, the for his country on 73 occasions. his positional instincts, making his way across bottom half of my body swung around “And the night before the game, local the goalmouth in the blink of an eye as Pele and I ended up facing almost backwards... fans stopped the traffic outside our hotel at rose to send a bullet header goalwards. and that’s when I saw the ball bouncing about 2am and of course all the car horns The reason why this awe-inspiring effort away. started. It took the police a couple of hours seemingly never grows old has much to do “Moore-o (Bobby Moore) came and to restore peace and quiet by which time we with the need for anticipation. It wasn’t a clipped me on the top of the head. Tostão were all wide awake! Then they came back knee-jerk instinctive save from a point-blank had his hands in the air then started again and did the same thing.” shot. Everything Banks did that day came clapping. Pele had his hand in the air, almost “A bit naughty but to be honest, it didn’t from a split-second conscious ability to judge asking how that had happened,”... a question make any difference in the end. On the day exactly what he needed to do to keep his team no one has ever really answered. we played superbly.” level. “I never used to stand on my line, always Best Laid Plans Don’t Look Up two or three yards off it. Thank goodness. I “We created more chances and should have Banks was to make save after save to keep looked at his take-off point and his balance won. In fact, that was the first time I started England level - a consummate athlete at the to help work out which way the header was to believe that we could go on and win the peak of his powers. Just ten minutes into going. That’s when I also heard him shout World Cup again...and I thought we’d see the game, the attack and its fabled outcome ‘Gol’!” Brazil again in the final. That time, they’d be began with the Brazilian captain Carlos “I knew straight away I’d have to guess the ones who were nervous.” Alberto. how high the ball would bounce off the Sadly, Banks’ plans were to be foiled days “He was such an amazing player. He rock-hard surface whilst at the same time later by a severe stomach upset, confining fizzed this beautiful pass with the outside reaching behind me.” him to hotel quarters while a two-nil lead of his right foot, to Jairzinho. In a flash, he Watching the save back in real time does became a 3-2 defeat to West Germany. ghosted past Terry Cooper towards the little justice to Banks’ efforts. Only in slow “Of course I was disappointed. I think I by-line. For a moment it looked like he’d motion can you consider the acrobatic ability, was a better keeper in ‘70 than in ‘66. I was over-run it. If he managed to get the cross in the calculations necessary, the instincts and in my thirties, all the experience I’d gained I knew we were in trouble. He looked up and the amazing distance covered...all in the blink for England and at club level and I was in so did I...and quickly wished I hadn’t!” of an eye. such good form; supremely confident in my “Rivelino was charging in from the left, “I just thought it was a goal. I’d managed abilities. It felt like it was my time and I know Pele was sprinting through the middle and to get the top of my thumb to it,” recalls the that spread to the players around me.”

CHRISTMAS 2016 27 as it was nil-nil at the time. Like they say, sometimes saving a goal’s as important as scoring one.” So often these days polls are dominated by recent players, recent goals, recent teams...yet in some ways it’s the legacy of Banks’ moment which is the most significant. “I suppose it’s the internet which keeps the interest these days. Kids can listen to their dads, well their grand-dads, then log on and read about it and play it over again and make their own judgements. “I’m sure it helps that the header was from Pele. He was the very best I ever saw, built to play football with such a great brain. “We didn’t talk about it at the time, just shook hands as we left the field. It never really cropped up again until we got home.” Years later, the Brazilian legend came over to the UK to collect yet another award - and not for the first time explained why his memories of the day are so clear. “I’ve played all over the globe, won World Cups, scoring more than 1000 goals. went and found some at a local sports shop. But every time I come here to England, the Wonder Gloves The palms and the backs of the fingers were only thing people ask me about is Gordon As the Pele save had proven, if it was save- covered in those pimples you find on a table Banks!” able, Banks was your man. tennis bat! I popped them on at training the More than four decades later, the next day and they were terrific. Banks on memories are undiminished, the pride still “Because we were at altitude, the ball there and the recollections saved for a lucky was moving about a bit and so my handling Today’s Keepers few. wasn’t what it needed to be. But our chat reveals a chapter of the “Five minutes with these gloves on and GK1: So who does Gordon Banks story lost in the midst of time regarding the I couldn’t drop a thing. They were brilliant enjoying watching these days? gloves he wore that day. and sent my confidence through the roof GB: “I get down to the Britannia “In the heat of the Mexican sun, the and they’re the ones you see me wearing in Stadium when I can to see Stoke players wore as little as possible. The Guadalajara. (He’s the Hon. Club President ) and sometimes to Leicester. Joe Hart is a keeper’s attire couldn’t have been more “To be honest I couldn’t wait to get home terrific talent. He’s had a tough time of simple - cotton shirt, ordinary shorts and a to see if I could flog a few pairs,” he joked. late, but he’s young and he’ll be great cap if the sun shone,” remembers Gordon. for England in years to come. In England, keepers only wore gloves if Legacy “I’m not surprised to see Craig it was wet! Little woollen ones at that! That It wasn’t really until England’s GK1 returned Gordon’s save in the Top 5. He’s a was until a week or so before the Brazil home that the fascination with THAT save special talent and that was a real match. became apparent. reflex save from very close range and “I was lying in bed watching a football “Every time I was interviewed on TV or he had to fetch the ball almost from match in my hotel room and saw this by the newspapers, the question about the behind him. He’s of an age where Mexican keeper had these big gloves on,” save came up over and over again.” he’ll keep on improving and Scotland remembers Banks. So does he tire of discussing it? have got themselves an excellent “I went straight to Alf (Ramsey) and asked “I can’t afford to! No, seriously, I’m very talent there.” if I could go into town to find some. Off I proud to have made the save especially

28 CHRISTMAS 2016 KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT KIT

HOW TO USE IT CATAPULT In order to use the goalkeeper algorithm you will need to be using The goalkeeper algorithm is a new feature available in OpenField the specifically-designed OptimEye G5 with the latest firmware in combination with a device specifically designed for use with GK version. Turn on OptimEye G5 and place inside the Catapult (OptimEye G5). garment. It provides the ability to detect and analyse goalkeeper-specific Ensure that the correct size garment is used as this will provide the actions such as dives and accelerations/decelerations. most accurate measurement. The garment should be tight fitting but not feel uncomfortable for the player. CURRENT SITUATION OptimEye G5 will now record data during the training session/ At present, limited information is available to technical and physical match which is stored on a memory card inside the device. coaches in relation to the actions specific to goalkeepers. On completion of the session, turn off OptimEye G5 and upload the Typically goalkeepers will often trainisolated from outfield players data file using either the charge case or single downloading cradle. with some involvement in outfield football player drills The file will now be uploaded into OpenField for (such as small-sided games). further analysis and reporting. The data can then Whilst outfield players are consistently be broken down in to individual drills/periods monitored using global positioning systems that enable further understanding of the (GPS), the monitoring methods available goalkeeper demands. for goalkeepers are often limited to heart rate monitoring and sub¬jective POTENTIAL USES measures (e.g. rating of perceived effort In order to understand the potential – RPE). uses of the goalkeeper algorithm, it Current popular GPS variables that is important that longitudinal data is are used to analyse the demands initially collected for each individual of outfield soccer players, such as player. This will help to create an distanced covered in various velocity individual profile for each goalkeeper bands, may not be applicable for use with to establish threshold values based on goalkeepers. sessions of varying volume/intensity. The For example, goalkeepers have been found quantification of dives may identify whether to cover approximately only 2.5% of their a goalkeeper overloads on a particular total distance at high velocity (Figure 1). side based on the classification of different Therefore there is a requirement to develop magnitude bands. variables that are specific to the demands Repeated high magnitude dives in training of GK. sessions over a longitudinal period may indicate increased risk to impact injuries. HOW IT WORKS The use of inertial analysis to identify the The goalkeeper algorithm uses a direction and number of accelerations/ combination of inertial sensor and decelerations will help to understand the GPS signals to detect various actions of physiological demands placed on goalkeepers. goalkeepers. The novel nature of such analysis will allow Specifically, the sensors are used to detect when coaches to individualise training drills in order to a dive event has occurred by determining the direction in which periodise loading in preparation for competitive matches. When data the goalkeeper dives and the magnitude of the impact (Figure 2). is collected longitudinally and analysed for each individual drill, this Jump actions can be detected and quantified by the height in which will enable creation of a drill database that acts as supplementary the goalkeeper jumps (measured in cm). The inertial sensors are material for the coach when selecting the best training drills on each also used to quantify the number of accelerations/decelerations particular training day in relation to days prior to a match. performed by a goalkeeper, which is separated in to various OptimEye G5 represents Catapult’s dedication to sport-specific, and movement bands classified as low, medium and high efforts. In movement-specific, analytics. By measuring movements in context, combination with such analysis, the changes in direction can also be you will be understand the individual characteristics of each athlete quantified based on left and right side movements. relative to their position demands.

CHRISTMAS 2016 29 amesGoalkeeper training with JHollman James Hollman is a professional goalkeeper coach currently working with the senior squad at Motherwell in the and as a consultant for Sport Careers, a specialist sports marketing company www.sportcareers.co.uk. James is also the inventor of the revolutionary agility and deflection training equipment from ProDeflect™ goalkeeping training equipment.

James’s career in goalkeeping started year working relationship with a young in 1992 when he joined the Ipswich Robert Green, one of GK1’s earliest Town School of Excel-lence. He clients. signed his first professional contract In a six year spell at Norwich City in 1995 to join the senior squad James was part of a team that reached alongside fellow youth goalkeeper the Championship play-off final in 2001 Richard Wright and established pro and won the Championship title and Craig Forrest. promotion to the Premier League in James went on to play close to 200 2004. James also played a big part in games at semi-professional level and convincing then manager Peter Grant continued to play when his coaching to replace the departing Robert Green career started in Ipswich Town’s newly with a young David Marshall. implemented academy set up. “I was 23 at the time and had This was followed by a similar played 200 odd games mostly at maybe work my way to that level as a opportunity at East Anglian rivals semi-professional level, and all of a player but inevitably the coaching took Norwich City in 2000 which in turn sudden I’m working with Paul Crichton, over. Within 12 months of starting my led to James being offered the senior a goalkeeper 10 years my senior with first senior job I’m walking out on to the goalkeeper coaching position as part of over 400 league games to his name. In Millennium Stadium pitch to warm Rob Nigel Worthington’s coaching staff, as truth I saw it as a chance to be back in a Green up for the play-off final, three well as the start of what would be a five full time professional environment and years later we won the Championship

30 CHRISTMAS 2016 me to start having the prototypes made professional-ly. This was when development really started and I began to look at different designs, materials and production methods, but it wasn’t until 2014, during my time away from coaching, that I had the time to visit professional manufacturers and PRO 2 material specialists in order to develop the product you see today.” and suddenly I’m coaching in the Ian Baracloughs Motherwell FC in the “Versions of the product have been Premier League.” . sold to Arsenal, Manchester United, “It was a great experience and a huge “The idea for ProDeflect came to Aston Villa, Chelsea, , learning curve, gaining qualifications is me in about 1996; I was warming up Swansea City, Cardiff City, Ipswich Town, important and offer any coach a huge for a game, we had arrived late at the Norwich City and Blackpool.” amount but there no substitute for stadium and time was running out “Of course I use it regularly here at gaining first hand experience at as high a to prepare. It came to dealing with Motherwell and I’ve not met a keeper lev-el as possible. Pressure on everything a few strikes from the edge of the yet that doesn’t like it.” you do and every decision you make. 18 yard area and I didn’t remove the That taught me a lot in a very short time.” groundsman’s barrier. It was a simple Why is it so good? James later returned to Ipswich Town rope intended to help the grass grow “For years I looked for a specific in 2008 for a three year spell working by keeping the goalkeepers out of the piece of deflection equipment and for managers , six yard box during the warm-up. One experimented with all sorts of gear and , as well as with senior of the shots hit the rope and deflected to try and recreate a deflection in an goalkeepers such as Richard Wright and the ball, and that was the moment the effective training session, but I found Asmir Begović. idea was conceived.” nothing that I felt was good enough. This was followed by a very “It wasn’t until 2005 that I started to That was when I set about developing successful two and a half year period, experiment. I couldn’t find anything a deflection product that met my beginning in 2010 with ’s that would effectively repli-cate a re-quirements and the demands of Cardiff City team. James again was deflection and so I started to play with goalkeepers at the highest level.” teamed up with David Marshall along a few ideas and bits of equipment to try with GK1 client Tom Heaton, and in and develop the idea that came to me No need to manufacture a deflection the first season they reached the play nine years prior. By 2009 I finally had a “Many pieces of equipment require offs and League Cup final, before prototype good enough to use with the the server to take aim at them and that being crowned league champions the seniors at Ipswich Town, where Richard allows the goal-keeper the opportunity following season to secure a return to Wright and Asmir Begović were among to anticipate the defection and take the Premier League. the first senior players to experience the the necessary steps to deal with it. With James parted company with Cardiff product in action.” ProDeflect equipment the ball is aimed in January 2014 and went on to spend “Progress moved steadily along at the goal or goalkeeper and not at 18 months away from coaching, until 2012 when the positive feedback the equipment, which eliminates the during which time he developed the I had from every one of the many goalkeeper’s ability to anticipate the ProDeflect products prior to joining goalkeepers who had used it prompted deflection.”

CHRISTMAS 2016 31 of those benefits. The feedback from coaches and goalkeepers as well as my own experiences have identi-fied the following benefits.”

Increased focus “Some coaches expressed concerns that the equipment would cause goalkeepers to form bad habits, namely taking their head back and away from the ball. In fact the opposite happens; it ProDeflect with David Marshall forces the keeper to increase focus and Infinite types of realistic deflections Versatility mental discipline to attack the ball and and realistic situations “I wanted a piece of equipment that watch it all the way into their hands.” “The vast majority of equipment out had no limits. Most equipment is one there allowed the goalkeeper to see the dimensional and very restrictive when Realistic psychological approach initial strike at goal, and then anticipate in use. ProDeflect has no limits, the “In competitive games the vast majority the deflections and the angle of the server can kick from as close to the of deflections are unpredictable. deflection. ProDeflect was de-signed equipment as they like, can use any As mentioned, other deflection to reduce the goalkeeper’s capacity to technique and hit it as hard as they products require the server to aim anticipate and it is built using materials want. Equally the latest version allows at the equipment which means the that produce an infinite number the user to move the equipment easily goalkeeper expects the deflection of realistic deflections in terms of during a session making a change of and in some cases can predict the direction, spin, angle and speed just like angle or distance simple. ProDeflect angle that deflection will take in or- those seen in competitive games. The is also designed to allow the user to der to sufficiently prepare for it. With addition of the sight shield increases in-crease or decrease the potential for ProDeflect it is nearly impossible to the realism by replicating bodies a deflection by adding or removing the predict a deflection and even harder to blocking the goalkeeper’s vision.” individual parts of the net.” predict the angle of that deflection. This means, as in a game, the goal-keeper The goalkeeper will have the chance No damage to the footballs can’t wait for a deflection and must to deal with 99% of the strikes at goal “I have felt the wrath of many a kit react to the first shot and only deal with “ProDeflect is designed to deflect man because the gear I used to a deflec-tion if and when it happens.” the ball but equally it is designed to create a deflection caused damage ensure the goalkeep-er has the chance to the footballs, and with this in mind Unrivalled reaction training to deal with the shot. It is frustrating ProDeflect uses materials that will not “The goalkeeper can’t anticipate the when a deflection is so big that the ball damage your footballs.” deflection and it is therefore a ‘genuine’ travels nowhere near the goal and the reaction training tool.” goalkeeper is not tested. ProDeflect is What are the benefits? designed so the larger deflections still “The product is currently at Cardiff Realistic training hit the target but they take the pace off University where Professor Len Noakes “ProDeflect is realistic in that the the ball in order to allow the goalkeeper and his team are put-ting it through deflections it creates replicate those more time to make up the greater a series of tests to establish precisely you see in a game.” distance and potentially make a save.” what the benefits are and the scale

32 CHRISTMAS 2016 Enjoyment Models available David Marshall “The one piece of feedback that is PRO1S - The PRO1S is the original and “Jim has been involved in the consistent is the enjoyment and biggest of ProDeflects products. 20ft higher levels of professional football for over 20 years and distraction from the typi-cal training wide and 6ft tall it provides the biggest he has used his knowledge load. As Tom Heaton touches on in target area. and experience to produce the his quote, the goalkeeper can work ProDeflect equipment. I benefit ex-tremely hard without realising their PRO2 - The PRO2 is also 6ft high but is from using it and without work rate.” slightly smaller at 18ft wide. We believe doubt it is the best piece of “John Ruddy says he didn’t realise this is our best product and it has equipment I have used.” how good the ProDeflect product achieved strong feedback from many actually was until he used it himself. of our customers. The PRO2 is more John Ruddy “ProDeflect is brilliant, I didn¹t I have spent a significant amount of mobile than the PRO1S and is easily realise exactly how good time filming the equipment in use moved during a session, making it easy until i used it. Its realistic attempting to illus-trate as many type to change angle and distance. It is also and replicates almost every of the deflections that are achieved. portable - the entire product comes in deflection your likely to see in It is easy to see the larger deflections a bag measuring 6ft long and can fit in a game.” and look great, but what it can’t to an average car - and is quicker to set show you is that even the slightest up with an assembly time of under five Asmir Begovic of touches on the equipment can minutes. “A top quality piece of equipment, It brought the best alter the flight enough to cause a big out of me and will definitely problem. Equally the equipment is PRO3 - The PRO3 measures 10ft improve anyone who uses it.” designed so sometimes the ball can wide and 5ft tall and is designed for strike it but the ball won’t deviate from younger goalkeepers and domestic Tom Heaton its original course. In cases like this it users. However it is built with the same “I love using ProDeflect, loads is the sound of the deflection that can standards as all ProDeflect products of great sessions can be put on cause the problem for the keeper and so is capable of with-standing the using it, you don¹t realise how as mentioned before forces increased more intensive demands of senior hard you are working because its so enjoyable and it defiantly focus and they must watch the ball all goalkeepers. makes you better.” the in to them.”

PRO 1S

CHRISTMAS 2016 33 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Bob Wilson So who’s on OUR Side? Strikers, referees, ball manufacturers, sometimes even your own defenders - they’re all out there making life as difficult as possible for today’s goalkeepers. One of the goalkeeping greats - Bob Wilson OBE - looks at the changing face of ‘keeping over five decades and concludes that the job isn’t getting any easier.

ew goalkeepers have ‘been to date has raised more than £14 million. 20 Premier League clubs, to raise funds for there, done it and got the Today, tomorrow and the next, Bob will The Willow Foundation. T-shirt’ as many times as Bob be out on his bike in training for his biggest Before today’s 36-mile training ride, Bob Wilson. Just a season away challenge yet... to cycle from his ‘ancestral’ takes time out to give GK1 his thoughts on Ffrom his 70th birthday, Bob looks back on home in Glasgow, heading south to visit all the ever changing life of a goalie. a career on and off the pitch bejewelled with achievement: international honours with Scotland; 11 years and more than 300 appearances for his beloved Arsenal; the League and Cup Double and becoming the UK’s first ever full time goalkeeping coach, spending 28 years pioneering new methods and nurturing talents such as and . From dominating the penalty box, Bob headed for another box and a new career, first with the BBC, as the face of Football Focus, then to ITV, fronting their coverage of Euro ‘96 and France ‘98. A few short months after that memorable finale in Paris, Bob’s life changed forever, following the tragic death from cancer of his daughter Anna. In her memory, Bob and his wife Meg set up The Willow Foundation, a local charity providing special days for 16-40 year olds diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. In those 12 years, this small charity has blossomed into a national institution and

34 CHRISTMAS 2016 : The first month of the season And somewhere along the way it could go October 2006). For me the chance of him averaged 3.2 goals per game, way above up, down, right or left. Goalies nowadays getting the same injury again is so small. the norm. suggested good don’t know what it’s going to do. In my day, Great ‘keepers feel unbeatable. In ‘71, when defending was a dying art. Is good I’d get my feet moving within about 5 yards we won the Double, I just felt as if nobody goalkeeping a dying art? of him striking it, hopefully catching it or was going to beat me. Whoever wins the BW: Far from it! There are lots of reasons deflect it for a corner. Today goalkeepers league this year, you can guarantee that for the increase in goals. Full backs used to not move until the last 10 yards of the their keeper will have had an exceptional defend. Now they’re being told to push on ball’s flight. It’s often at this late stage it does season. more and more and often leave themselves the weird bizarre things, swerving all over exposed at the back. Tony’s right about the place! Where we caught, caught, caught, the art of defending, but it’s not the main the modern goalie only has a split second reason. Plainly and simply, it’s down to to decide whether to catch or deflect. More the modern ball. ‘Keepers already have to often than not, they go for safety first. I defend 192 square feet of goal. That’s 8 foot worked for 16 years with David Seaman by 8 yards - a big enough chasm without as his coach and he had a brilliant way of having a ball which does so many tricks in angling his wrists so the ball hit his hands flight. I’ve studied this season’s new ball and his gloves and flew well away from the and it’s not that bad. Certainly it’s better danger area. For a young goalie these days, than that joke ball they used in the World that is a very difficult art to master. Cup. That was almost a beach ball. But the inconsistency of goalkeeping and the : So have changes in the laws of the increase in goals scored is down to the ball. game helped or hindered ‘keepers? BW: The changes regarding back passes : So bad news all round for ‘keepers? and time wasting have meant that ‘keepers BW: The authorities and the TV networks; have had to become more assured with the everyone who puts their money into ball at their feet. That’s fine for someone like football wants goals and unpredictability. who is so incredibly calm : Top keepers seem much older So no, not good news for goalkeepers. If a and has great control but for the majority these days. Reina, Cech, Van Der Sar, game finished nil-nil even though they can of the lads, they just clear their lines. I think Almunia: terrific talents, but foreign be smashing games, people just wouldn’t of the cup final I played in ‘71 and I caught talents. Is there a lack of young home want to watch them as much. There are a corner in the last minute of extra time grown talent? certain teams in the Premier League who and I spent that minute dribbling the ball BW: It takes a very brave manager to put play in a certain way and you see their round the box, no punishment or anything, a 22 year old in a first team. On the whole grounds half full. What it’s about now is and then I picked it up and bounced it and they don’t risk it. In the 70s, an 18-year old that you have got to have goals. We used the final whistle went. It’s good that has called forced Leicester City to reckon on making about half a dozen stopped, but unfortunately I think it also to sell England’s World Cup winning goalie serious mistakes during the course of a has a down side because there’s no skill in Gordon Banks and they got away with it! season. Nowadays, I think most goalies can seeing a ‘keeper hoof it into the stands all Shilton was brilliant and Banksy had to go make 2 or 3 mistakes in a game because of day long. to Stoke City. Pat Jennings was signed by the change of rules and the ball. It’s a far Spurs from Watford at the age of 18 and more difficult position to excel at. : So which keeper for you deals best was stuck straight in the first team. Because with everything that the Premier League the price of failure is so high these days, the : So is goalkeeping today that much can throw at him? majority of teams just dare not risk throwing different to when you were playing? BW: In ‘keepers, you look for consistency in a young goalie. Arsenal have a brilliant Surely the principles are the same? and last season I would have to go for young goalie called Wojciech Szczęsny. He BW: That’s only partially the case. We were Pepe Reina. He won games on his own for was absolutely brilliant on loan at Brentford always told to catch, catch, catch. Unless Liverpool last season. I’ve always been a and at this moment, Arsene Wenger is you were in Mexico or South Africa, the ball big admirer of Petr Cech but for me, I think very reluctant to use him because of the rarely deviated. It just maintained its course. he should get rid of the cap. He’s not been enormous pressure that would be upon Even before I stopped coaching the ball quite the same goalie since that challenge him. With so much at stake, Champions could move about 4 or 5 yards in the air. (with Stephen Hunt, Reading v Chelsea, 14th League, FA Cup and the league.

CHRISTMAS 2016 35 If they had moved to Hong Kong, does that mean I should only be allowed to play for China? Of course not. But that’s as far as it should go. I don’t think it should stretch to grandparents.

: You’re approaching 70 years of age. Shouldn’t you be reaching for the slippers and a pipe rather than planning to cycle more than 1,000 miles in a fortnight? BW: I should be, but it’s not really my style. We need more than £3 million every year. That way the Willow Foundation can continue to provide 1,500 special days a year for the recipients and their families. Before our daughter Anna died, she recognized there were all these amazing children’s charities as well as support for the elderly. But for the age group 16 to 40 there was no charity that was doing things like this. Since we started, we’ve provided : So what do you think is the single players see you coming, they nudge it past more than 7,000 special days and at the most important attribute a great keeper you and leave a leg trailing for a penalty and last count, we’d raised about £14 million. must possess? 99 per cent of the time, the goalie gets sent Next year I’ll be entering my 71st year so BW: People like Jennings and Shilton are very off as well. It’s a joke. Why do the authorities we’re linking that with the Arsenal double calm. ‘Keepers need to be great actors, upon not have the sense to understand what’s in ‘70-’71. I am going to start at Hampden their stage, the penalty box. Even though happening. The goalie’s being brave. The Park, take in Ibrox and , then head inside you are dying a thousand deaths, striker’s being cunning. You are putting for 20 Premier League clubs through the thinking why the hell have I chosen to be a your life on the line. It was a skill that was North East, North West, the Midlands, then goalie. Every one of us thinks that way when particularly close to my heart. Consequently, London. I’ve got two colleagues with me, we go to stand in that goal. You look around it’s a talent which is now missing out of the two riders. But we will be joined en route and think how the hell can they not score? So goalkeeper’s armoury. at the grounds by some of my old mates. a built-in presence is vital. He’s only young but We’ll be averaging 70-80 miles a day and Joe Hart seems to have it. There’s a bit of the : There’s been talk of Almunia or at this stage it looks pretty daunting. But Schmeichel about him. He shouts at people Arteta qualifying to play for England? I’m already training hard, cycling around who have much more experience than him You benefited from a change in the rules 36 miles day. Fingers crossed we make it and I like that. He’s a real communicator. I was allowing you to play for Scotland, so and we’ll raise a minimum of £100,000 but I quick and agile and daft as a brush at diving should they benefit today? hope it will be a lot more than that. There’ll at people’s feet. I capitalised on everything BW: Absolutely not. Of course they shouldn’t be some tough times, I’m sure, but it’s all that worked for me. And he’s doing the same. play for England just because they’ve been for the love of this charity we set up. From You need to concentrate for 90 or 96 minutes. here a few years. It was different for me. My raising a few pounds locally, we’ve grown His alertness is excellent because if you don’t mother and father were both Scottish as into a national charity which helps provide expect the unexpected you will be made to were their parents. They moved south for much needed time out from the stresses of look silly. work and I was born in Derbyshire. But I had living with a life-threatening condition. It a kilt for heaven’s sake! My great uncle was gives these young people and their families : You were famous for risking life chairman of Glasgow Rangers. I played for a chance to feel normal and to create happy and limb, diving at people’s feet. How has England schoolboys with the likes of Nobby memories. that skill developed since your day? Stiles, yet my dad wouldn’t watch me play BW: It hasn’t! I didn’t miss a single game against Scotland. If your mother and father For more details of how you can help Bob and in 1970-71. If I played today like I did then, move countries to look for work, you should his team just visit I wouldn’t last half a season. These days, be able to represent their country of origin. www.willowfoundation.org.uk

36 CHRISTMAS 2016 In memory of Adam

From London, via Budapest and Sydney, World in Motion paid tribute to former colleague Adam Jodoin in Charity 5k and 10k races globally on 1st October. Adam sadly collapsed at the end of a 10k run in September 2015, and never regained consciousness. To commemorate Adam, it was agreed that World in Motion would raise funds for good causes, with the World in Motion Foundation recently established to these ends. We are proud to announce that over £3,000 has been raised for British Heart Foundation following the run on 1st October (justgiving.com/company/ WorldinMotion). Thank you to all who supported the team!

CHRISTMAS 2016 37 Meet the team The World in Motion Sports Management Group, and its subsidiary GK1 Management, is one of is one of the UK’s foremost sports management companies, with a reputation for both professional excellence and integrity. The company offers a comprehensive and exclusive management service to footballers, and each aspect of a player’s career is dealt with by a qualified expert. Andy Evans - Chairman A founder member of World In Motion, Andy’s experience in the fields of commercial and sports law is one of the foundation stones of our success. Having established a reputation as a formidable lawyer with international law firm, Freshfields, Andy became a licensed FA players’ agent in 1997 and is now head of our football division. He works closely with all the company’s football clients and has successfully negotiated more than 500 transfers. He is fluent in French and Spanish and represents clubs home and abroad, helping them to find the finest talents around the globe. Email: [email protected]

Charles Mountifield - Chief Operating Officer As Chief Operating Officer at World in Motion, Charles works closely with Chairman Andy Evans on company operations in general and business development in Australia in particular, dividing his time between Australia and the UK. Charles is a former Director of World in Motion and after twenty years working in professional sport in the UK and France, Charles returned to Australia in 2011 with Essentially Group and was the company’s CEO until 2014. Charles read law and sports management at university and holds an LLM in Sports Law and an MSc in Sports Management. He speaks French and combines his role at World in Motion with consultancy work and university lecturing. Email: [email protected] Bill Pethybridge - Licensed Players Agent Bill joined World in Motion in 2000 from a leading multi discipline marketing agency, Exposure, where he was heavily involved in the planning and implementation of nationwide promotional and marketing campaigns. Prior to Exposure , Bill spent six years working as an Event co-ordinator and travelled Europe working at high profile sporting events. After gaining his FIFA licence in 2001 Bill has built up his own portfolio of clients, and now represents a number of Premier League and Football League players. As World in Motion has grown, Bill has taken on more responsibility in terms of recruiting and managing young players and developing our links with foreign players and their representatives. Email: [email protected]

James Lippett - Licensed Players Agent James joined World in Motion from New Era Global Sports in October 2010, having obtained his Agent’s License in 2008. Based in London, James has a domestic client list comprising Premier League, Championship, League 1 and 2. He also represents a number of international players that are currently playing overseas and a select group of Managers/Head Coaches. James has also become an influential agent in the German market having negotiated transfers to take players to Bundesliga/Bundesliga 2 and also has also moved players from Germany to England. Email: [email protected]

Darren Bossons - Licensed Players Agent Darren joined the World in Motion team after having successfully operated agency Seven Sport for ten years. During this time Darren identified and managed players throughout the UK Leagues whilst also conducting numerous high value Premier League transfers. Darren has been licensed since 2001 and has gone on to establish an impressive client base and brings significant experience to World in Motion where he will predominantly operate in the North of England. Email: [email protected]

Charlie McNicholas - Licensed Players Agent Charlie joined the World in Motion team in 2010. He is responsible for the identification and recruitment of UK talent and for our Spanish and Portuguese office. A graduate of Oxford University, Charlie is also fluent in three foreign languages, enabling him to play an integral role in the rapidly expanding overseas division of World in Motion. Email: [email protected]

Jonne Lindblom - Licensed Players Agent Jonne joined World in Motion full time in early 2016. After gaining his FIFA license in 2010, Jonne started his own agency, Golden Star Management. Headquartered in Helsinki, Golden Star has offices in Tallinn, Stockholm, New York and Brussels. Jonne has established an excellent contact network in Scandinavia, Central Europe, United States, Colombia and other global markets. He has completed over 60 deals for international players, including Uruguay legend Diego Lugano and 100 transfers overall globally. Jonne runs the Scandinavian office for World in Motion and divides his time between Scandinavia and London. Jonne is fluent in Finnish, Swedish and English. E-mail: [email protected] Michael Gorman - Attorney & LIcensed Player Agent Michael manages the American MLS and South American markets for World in Motion, dividing his time between Los Angeles and Medellin, Colombia. His strong relationships in South America and understanding of the complex MLS rules have helped him to negotiate over €25 million in total transactions since 2012. Michael speaks Spanish fluently and previously worked as a finance attorney for investment funds and the United States federal government. E-mail: [email protected]

38 CHRISTMAS 2016 Graham Ross - Football Consulltant Based in Australia, Graham is an ex-professional goalkeeper with over forty years’ experience in the football industry. Following retirement, Graham moved into coaching, winning a number of titles in Australia over a ten year period. Graham is also Managing Director of Red Lion Football; Australia’s number one distributor of Nike team wear, Australian agents for Locust Gloves and was the original Sells agents for six years. The company also runs international football tours linking up with clubs like Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, Real Madrid & FC Barcelona. Graham combines his involvement with coaching and role at Red Lion Football with a consultancy role with World in Motion and GK1. E-mail: [email protected] Julien Laurens - Football Consulltant Julien joined World in Motion last January after working for many years in the media industry. He is looking after the French market and brings great knowledge of French players and French football to the company. He lives in London but travels to France on a regular basis for meetings, matches and scouting trips. E-mail: [email protected]

Danny Naisbitt - FA Licensed Intermediary Danny Naisbitt joined the World in Motion team in February 2016. Ex-professional goalkeeper Danny had a playing career which lasted over twenty years and he played for a host of clubs including; Middlesbrough, Walsall, Barnet, Brentford, AFC Wimbledon, Histon, Brighton (loan) and Cambridge United. Danny’s clients include Premier League players/goalkeepers. E-mail: [email protected]

David Balda - Football Consultant David joins World in Motion with a background as a former football player and an education in management and marketing. He has experience as a football scout and sports director at football clubs. He is fluent in English, Czech, Slovak and Polish and will assist World in Motion principally in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. E-mail: [email protected]

Gabor Lucza - Football Consultant Gabor runs the Central European office for World in Motion and divides his time between Hungary and England. Gabor is a former Hungarian U19 player, whose career was cut short by injury at the age of 21. Before joining World in Motion, Gabor was with Nike Hungary for a number of years, forming relationships with clubs, players and corporates. Gabor has excellent relationships with a number of clubs in Central and Eastern Europe and has been integral in developing a successful Central European branch of the company. E-mail: [email protected]

Lucas Chang Jin - Licensed Players Agent Lucas is an FA Licensed Agent and divides his time between London and China, working for World in Motion’s Asian office. With a wealth of contacts and an in-depth knowledge of the Asian football market, Lucas has successfully negotiated transfers between clubs in Europe and Asia for players in both directions. Lucas is also able to assist in recommending players to clubs in Asia and arranging tours for European clubs to the region. He holds a Masters Degree in Law and speaks three languages: Mandarin, Cantonese and English. E-mail: [email protected]

Dejan Smuk - Football Consultant Dejan Smuk joined World in Motion in 2015. He was CEO at a leading outdoor advertising provider in Slovenia, also worked in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia&Herzegovina and Macedonia, where they were either number 1 or 2 market provider. The company has been owned by two private equity funds from UK and Poland and having been sold to one of the major global outdoor advertising groups, he was involved in implementation of regionwide promotional and marketing campaigns which brought him a wealth of contacts in a Balkan region. Dejan’s main role at World in Motion is to identify and recruit the best young talent in Balkan region. The former football player has a background in coaching and scouting, and previously worked with a lot of football clubs in the region, where he was responsible for marketing and development strategy. This brought him an in-depth knowledge of the former Yugoslavian football market. Dejan speaks English and all languages of former Yugoslavian countries. Email: [email protected] Fiorangelo Calimà - Licensed Players Agent After gaining his FIFA License in 2006, Fiorangelo established excellent relationships with a wide number of clubs, agent and players in Italy, as well as in the rest of Europe and South America. Although over the years he has successfully concluded numerous transfers throughout Europe, he has especially developed a deep knowledge of the Italian and Greek football markets and become World in Motion’s reponsible agent for those territories. He works between Milan - where he is based - and London and Athens. Fiorangelo is a graduate in Law and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek. E-mail: [email protected]

Sam Jackson - Head of Research & Analytics Sam joined World In Motion in the summer of 2016 having caught the company’s attention with a blog devoted to the statistical analysis of goalkeepers. Holding first-class BA and MA degrees, Sam works closely with World In Motion’s goalkeeping-focused subsidiary, GK1 Management, to develop new methods of analysing goalkeepers in order to uniquely assist clubs with their goalkeeping recruitment. He is also responsible for identifying talent across all positions with a range of statistical methods. E-mail: [email protected]

CHRISTMAS 2016 39 Your future in safe hands

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Tel: + 44 (0) 20 8741 6060 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 8741 6062 Email: [email protected] www.worldinmotion.com Email: [email protected] www.gk1.co.uk

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40 CHRISTMAS 2016