Oystermen hoping accolade can inspire stopper

Whitstable Town's fans will be hoping their keeper Luke Watkins is in inspired form over the run-in after he was rewarded for his fine displays earlier in the season for the Ryman South promotion-chasers.

The eighth-placed Oystermen are just three points off a play-off spot and the former former Rochester United stopper is pictured collecting November's Precision Golden Gloves Awards from club secretary Phil Gurr before helping joint managers Jim and Danny Ward record an emphatic 4-1 win over Kent rivals Sittingbourne on St Valentine's Day.

Watkins was presented with his first safe hands accolade of the campaign after being beaten just five times in five league outings over November.

Watkins, who committed to the Oystermen in the summer, was named among November's trio of top keepers alongside Margate's Nikki Bull in the Ryman Premier and Rob Budd at Thamesmead Town in Ryman North.

The Ryman League's monthly ‘safe hands’ honours in the Ryman Premier, Ryman North and Ryman South divisions are sponsored by Nottingham-based Reydon Sports PLC, the UK's largest sports and leisure wholesale and distribution company.

Through their Precision Goalkeeping brand, winning keepers receive a pair of Precision Goalkeeping gloves provided by ProKit UK, the nominated retailer administering the awards on their behalf.

January's Golden Gloves winners were unveiled earlier this month as Wingate & Finchley's Bobby Smith, Jack Giddens at Tilbury and Jack Fagan at Worthing.

Smith took the top flight's accolade after keeping three clean sheets in four straight wins for the Blues. Dockers keeper Giddens was beaten just twice in three wins and a single defeat while Rebels stopper Fagan conceded four times in four wins and two defeats over the opening month of 2015.

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.

Former England manager Graham Taylor is lead ‘brand ambassador’ for the company which was established in 2005 and 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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