Ryman's top stoppers named on final roll of honour

VCD Athletic’s Nick Blue, Luke Colquhoun at Cray Wanderers and for the second time this season, Folkestone Invicta keeper Tim Roberts, are the final golden gloves winners of the Ryman League campaign.

Roberts won December’s Precision Golden Gloves Awards in Ryman South and scooped the division’s final accolade for April after another series of top performances as the last line of defence for Neil Cugley’s runners-up.

After only being beaten twice in the final weeks of 2014 to earn his first award, the former Chatham Town, Croydon, Erith Town, Sittingbourne and Dulwich Hamlet keeper conceded just twice again in the final weeks of the campaign.

In six outings, five victories and a draw, the 26-year-old was only beaten by a late equaliser from champions Burgess Hill Town on the final day of the regular season at the Fullicks Stadium and a second three days later in their 2-1 win over Whyteleafe in the Ryman South play-off semi-finals.

In the Ryman League’s top flight, VCD Athletic’s Blue can look forward to collecting his first safe hands accolade of the season after playing a key role in Tony Russell’s side winning all five of their final games to guarantee survival.

The former Beckenham Town, Erith Town and Holmesdale keeper, who signed for the Vickers in October 2012, conceded just two goals in their first outing of the month, a 3-2 victory at Bury Town with clean sheets following against Leatherhead, Wingate & Finchley, Margate and Billericay Town.

In Ryman North, Cray Wanderers' young keeper Colquhoun won his first award of the season for an identical record, the stopper conceding two goals in six games as the Wands made history with now departed manager Tommy Warrilow leading them on a run of ten straight victories to set a new club record and climb out of the drop zone.

The monthly 'safe hands' awards are sponsored by Nottingham-based Reydon Sports PLC, the UK's largest sports and leisure wholesale and distribution company. Through their Precision Goalkeeping brand, the stoppers will each receive a pair of Precision Goalkeeping gloves provided by ProKit UK, the nominated retailer administering the awards.

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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