Seeing as I didn't manage to offer much in-season analysis (really need to work on it), thought I'd do some writing up of reviewing the season. With a few new goalkeepers in the league, and a few changes at key parts of the season, there are some good opportunities to do so. First up is David Forrester who moved all the way down from Scotland (think that should be read as Scawtland just to get the point across! Or at least with an appropriate dialectal sounding phrase... anyhoo...) to the new surroundings of Essex to play for East conference side Old Loughtonians. Joining fellow Scottish goalkeepers, Sheffield's Jamie Cachia and Holcombe's Allan Dick in the English national league system, having 'earnt his colours' in the Scottish national league whilst studying at Edinburgh University and then Inverness.
Having been involved in the Scottish international too, with regular game experience racked up to total a well rounded and developed goalkeeper, the challenge wasn't too tough for the young goalkeeper with opportunity to push himself further and 'keep on trucking' at the elite levels of hockey goalkeeping.
And with Old Loughtonians needing a solid goalkeeper to build their team around, after the retirement of their starter, long time servant Stuart Hendy having 'hung up the pads' (he himself taking over from George Harris as a young goalie at the time, who obviously went across to East Grinstead to try his luck) meant they were struggling. Chris Naven got his chance, but with the assuredness of having a goalkeeper of international ability, Old Loughts have been able to
At this level a goalkeeper needs to be: consistent, reliable, commanding and . And Forrester has shown his ability in all of these areas. Earning quite a few clean sheets has also shown his ability to work well with the defence in front of him to cut down the number of scoring chances that can become possible; something overlooked but crucial for goalkeepers looking to limit the opponent's scoring.
Most importantly, David has been able to 'shut it down' (i.e. act like a wall and keep everything out!), at important times in the game, making game changing stops at key scoring opportunities like short corners (as the link below shows). Helping them to a third place finish behind Southgate and Holcombe, he should be proud of his achievements this year, as well as earning further international call-ups, standing in good stead to build off his debut season in the English national league!
The clip itself shows great athleticism, as well as the decisive turn-at-the-wrist technical application to push the shot out wide and away to safety.
Having been involved in the Scottish international too, with regular game experience racked up to total a well rounded and developed goalkeeper, the challenge wasn't too tough for the young goalkeeper with opportunity to push himself further and 'keep on trucking' at the elite levels of hockey goalkeeping.
And with Old Loughtonians needing a solid goalkeeper to build their team around, after the retirement of their starter, long time servant Stuart Hendy having 'hung up the pads' (he himself taking over from George Harris as a young goalie at the time, who obviously went across to East Grinstead to try his luck) meant they were struggling. Chris Naven got his chance, but with the assuredness of having a goalkeeper of international ability, Old Loughts have been able to
At this level a goalkeeper needs to be: consistent, reliable, commanding and . And Forrester has shown his ability in all of these areas. Earning quite a few clean sheets has also shown his ability to work well with the defence in front of him to cut down the number of scoring chances that can become possible; something overlooked but crucial for goalkeepers looking to limit the opponent's scoring.
Most importantly, David has been able to 'shut it down' (i.e. act like a wall and keep everything out!), at important times in the game, making game changing stops at key scoring opportunities like short corners (as the link below shows). Helping them to a third place finish behind Southgate and Holcombe, he should be proud of his achievements this year, as well as earning further international call-ups, standing in good stead to build off his debut season in the English national league!
The clip itself shows great athleticism, as well as the decisive turn-at-the-wrist technical application to push the shot out wide and away to safety.
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