Curtis starts for EG

Last weekend saw Richard Curtis start for East Grinstead, as expected, against Oxted in their first game of the season. Brought in over the summer, the expectation would be that, as an experienced starter in the Premier league with Holcombe, he would be the first choice for the season. Sam Lloyd will therefore be second choice now and will compete for game time with him. 

It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the season (which is being played in a different format due to the international games in 2022 clashing with scheduling and player availability), given that the competition between goalkeepers on the training ground, will only serve to see both goalkeepers push themselves (and each other) to bring out the best in themselves.

Apologies for the potato camera but this was all I could manage with my usual camera out of action...

Ratcliffe using Brabo LHP

Another kit geekery spot this season was George Ratcliffe (former Wales junior, ex-Univerity of Birmingham starter, and HWHC no.2 - presumably in the senior Wales setup now - going on assumptions...) using the Brabo super pro catch glove; their top of the range LHP.

Interesting to see him making use of the Dutch brand glove given its lack of commonality in English goalies and I suspect the only piece of Brabo GK gear used in the Nat Prem this season. And I'd go on the educated (this time!) assumption that he uses it for its rebound properties and for further clearance on the save when making glove saves.

You can also see him make an intelligent clear with the glove to get rid of the ball after the low block covering the right baseline in the video, thanks to the rebound and 'ping' on the lighter foam glove.

Interestingly, it seems he's been trying out the Mercian LHP redesign, wearing it when backing up Kettle at the Playoffs for the Euro spots, and may be using it instead this upcoming season.