Alex is a super saver

The Bolton youngster has every chance of making it as his talents are already being honed by two ex-Manchester City goalkeepers and the Blackburn Rovers Academy.

Former Maine Road aces Ron Healey and Andy Dibble are passing on their considerable experience to Alex who has gone from strength to strength since surviving a tough start in the position.

His mum Gaynor recalls: "He was kicked in the face and broke his nose.

"There was blood pouring from his face but he didn't want to come off because he enjoys it so much.

"He has been playing in goal for about two years and has really worked hare to get where he is. He is one hundred per cent committed to goalkeeping but there are not as many opportunities for goalkeepers to get on and not as much specialist training than there is for outfield players."

Alex, of Pimlott Road, Hall i'th Wood, plays for the Bolton town team as well as Hindley Juniors in the Bolton Boys Fed, AFC Bolton seven-a-side team and St Columbas School in Tonge Moor.

Blackburn's academy coaches are running the rule over him every Monday night and he gets intensive specialist training at the Ron Healey goalkeeping school in Sale on Saturdays.

Healey enthused: "Alex is a very very talented lad and a good round good keeper.

"At our school we work the keepers hard and we are always looking for weaknesses so we can iron them out early.

"We started this school to produce keepers of the future and Alex is the right age.

"He is very balanced, both left and right and up in the air and down low which is unusual.

"He shows great potential for his age which is why Blackburn Rovers are looking at him and I am sure other clubs will be interested."

Healey appreciates the work professional club academies do for players but he believes their reluctance to allow their players to play for anyone else can cause problems when they reach their mid-teens.

"The academies are good but they restrict the youngsters in terms of who they can play for and the number of games they can play," he said.

"They will not let them play football outside the academy which means that when they get to 14 or 15 years old they have not played many games and they don't seem as good in match situations as we were in my time when we were brought up playing matches all the time."

For more information on the Ron Healey goalkeeping school contact 01625 525716 or 09582 84465. Ron Healey (01625 525716)

Gaynor Derbyshire (01204 598561 Mobile 07 940 219 492) G

OALKEEPER Alex Derbyshire is being tipped as a potential star of the future...at the age of 10.

The Bolton youngster has every chance of making it as his talents are already being honed by two ex-Manchester City goalkeepers and the Blackburn Rovers Academy.

Former Maine Road aces Ron Healey and Andy Dibble are passing on their considerable experience to Alex who has gone from strength to strength since surviving a tough start in the position.

His mum Gaynor recalls: "He was kicked in the face and broke his nose.

"There was blood pouring from his face but he didn't want to come off because he enjoys it so much.

"He has been playing in goal for about two years and has really worked hare to get where he is. He is one hundred per cent committed to goalkeeping but there are not as many opportunities for goalkeepers to get on and not as much specialist training than there is for outfield players."

Alex, of Pimlott Road, Hall i'th Wood, plays for the Bolton town team as well as Hindley Juniors in the Bolton Boys Fed, AFC Bolton seven-a-side team and St Columbas School in Tonge Moor.

Blackburn's academy coaches are running the rule over him every Monday night and he gets intensive specialist training at the Ron Healey goalkeeping school in Sale on Saturdays.

Healey enthused: "Alex is a very very talented lad and a good round good keeper.

"At our school we work the keepers hard and we are always looking for weaknesses so we can iron them out early.

"We started this school to produce keepers of the future and Alex is the right age.

"He is very balanced, both left and right and up in the air and down low which is unusual.

"He shows great potential for his age which is why Blackburn Rovers are looking at him and I am sure other clubs will be interested."

Healey appreciates the work professional club academies do for players but he believes their reluctance to allow their players to play for anyone else can cause problems when they reach their mid-teens.

"The academies are good but they restrict the youngsters in terms of who they can play for and the number of games they can play," he said.

"They will not let them play football outside the academy which means that when they get to 14 or 15 years old they have not played many games and they don't seem as good in match situations as we were in my time when we were brought up playing matches all the time."

For more information on the Ron Healey goalkeeping school contact 01625 525716 or 09582 84465.

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