Golden gloves line up for New Year

Named on Friday, Billericay Town’s Jack Giddens, Cheshunt’s James May and Tim Roberts at Folkestone Invicta are all looking forward to collecting their first honours of the campaign in the monthly competition which was sponsored for the first time last season by Nottingham-based Reydon Sports PLC - the UK's largest sports and leisure wholesale and distribution company.

Thanks to their Precision Goalkeeping brand, the trio will receive a pair of Precision Goalkeeping gloves with the prizes provided by ProKit UK, the nominated retailer administering the monthly golden gloves honours on behalf of Precision Training.

Signed in June from Tilbury by Blues manager Craig Edwards, Giddens was widely regarded as one of the best keepers in Ryman North last season and has helped lift the Blues to within three points of leaders Dulwich Hamlet.

In winning his first award, the 23-year-old excelled in the Ryman’s top flight last month, keeping three clean sheets in four straight wins, a single goal in a 3-1 victory over Hendon at New Lodge the only blemish on the record of the keeper who has also turned out for Tooting & Mitcham, Aveley, St Neots and Maldon & Tiptree since returning to England after playing professionally with Icelandic side UMF Grindavik.

Ryman North’s top stopper May switched to Cheshunt in September from Waltham Abbey after starring for the Abbotts last season in their record-breaking FA Cup run to the third qualifying round.

In five outings the 28-year-old conceded just three goals in two wins and three draws to help propel the Ambers into the promotion race with only goal difference currently separating them from fifth place and a play-off spot.

Former Chatham Town, Croydon, Erith Town, Sittingbourne and Dulwich Hamlet keeper Roberts has won numerous league and club awards since arriving at Invicta’s Fullicks Stadium in September 2013 from Walton & Hersham and making his debut in a 4-2 win over his former club a day later.

Now 27, Roberts wins Precision Goalkeeping’s Ryman South award with arguably the best record of the trio, clean sheets in five straight wins for the runaway leaders before blotting his copy book in a 2-1 defeat at Hythe Town in their final outing of the month on Sunday 27 December.

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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