First safe hands winners named!

By David Watters

Wingate & Finchley's Shane Gore, Ware's Darren Behcet and Horsham stopper Joshua Pelling are the Ryman League's first Precision Goalkeeping Golden Gloves award winners of 2017.

The three keepers were named on Wednesday as January's winners of the monthly ‘safe hands’ honours in the Ryman Premier, Ryman North and Ryman South divisions respectively.

After the awards were sponsored again this season by Nottingham-based Reydon Sports PLC, the UK's largest sports and leisure wholesale and distribution company through their Precision Goalkeeping brand, the trio are all looking forward to receiving a pair of Precision Goalkeeping gloves provided by ProKit UK, the nominated retailer administering the awards.

Wingate & Finchley keeper Shane Gore is no stranger to 'safe hands' awards following a long senior career which kicked off back in 2003 with a single appearance for Wimbledon before he went on to play for a host of clubs including St Albans City, Peterborough United, Barnet, Stevenage Borough, Havant & Waterlooville, Thurrock, East Thurrock United, Maidenhead United and Luton.

An arrival this season from Chesham United where he'd been since in 2010 apart from loan spells at Wealdstone and Hungerford, the 35-year-old wins Precision Goalkeeping's first accolade of the year in the top flight for his record of five goals in eight outings, two draws and six victories to keep the Blues in the running for the Ryman Premier play-offs.

In Ryman North, former West Ham, AFC Hornchurch, Bognor Regis Town, Cray Wanderers, Grays Athletic, Harlow Town, Maldon & Tiptree, Sutton United, Thurrock and Yeovil Town stopper Behcet earns his first safe hands accolade of the season for the immediate impact he's made since signing for the Blues in January following his release by Hendon. In three outings since arriving at Wodson Park, the much-travelled 30-year-old conceded twice in two victories and one reverse to help the Blues climb clear of trouble.

Horsham keeper Pelling is a PE teacher at the City of London Academy and he helped his Sussex club complete an awards double in January after the Hornets were also named on Wednesday as one of the Ryman League's monthly Macron Team Performance of the Month winners.

To win his first accolade of the campaign, the 25-year-old the former Brighton & Hove Albion, Rye United, Eastbourne Town and Hastings stopper conceded just two goals as Dominic di Paola's side recorded three victories and two draws in the opening weeks of the 2017.

Precision Goalkeeping boast an impressive list of keeping talent on their books including Kasper Schmeichel, Kieren Westwood, Tomasz Kuszczak, Darren Randolph, David Forde, Frank Fielding, Brian Jensen, Robert Olejnik, Andy Lonergan, Ian McLoughlin, Trevor Carson and Republic of Ireland goalkeeping coach and former international Alan Kelly. Established in 2005, the company also has official partnerships with the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales.

For further information on Precision Goalkeeping visit:www.precisiontraining.uk.com.

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