Neville Southall coaching at Finch Farm

Everton FC great Neville Southall puts budding young goalkeepers through their paces at Finch Farm

Former Blues shot-stopper now coaches children in Wales, but a collaboration between him and the club provided a unique experience on Merseyside



Everton FC legend Neville Southall made a special visit to Finch Farm - to put a group of budding young goalkeepers through their paces.

The former Blues shot-stopper now coaches children in Wales, but a collaboration between him and the club provided a unique experience on Merseyside.

In total, 77 youngsters aged eight to 16 travelled to the Toffees’ training headquarters to undergo sessions with academy coaches, tour the facilities and then attend the first-team’s fixture against Swansea City for free.

And the man with the most-ever appearances in an Everton shirt was delighted to be involved with his former employers once again.

“It’s fantastic to be here and have so many young goalkeepers with us,” Southall said “It’s a great opportunity for the kids and parents to come and see how it works at a professional club with professional coaches.

“We’re trying to address the lack of goalkeepers at youth level and part of the reason for that is grassroots football has taken a battering in recent years. But the national teams always start at grassroots level and I think Everton can lead the way in that.

“I’m hoping that we get a few things out of it. Firstly, that people will see Wales has some decent goalies, and secondly that the kids will really enjoy it.”

Also involved in the organisation of the initiative was Everton Under-21s goalkeeping coach Andy Fairman, who enlisted his current players Russell Griffiths and Jindrich Stanek to provide added and able assistance on the day.

“Neville got in contact with Roberto Martinez and explained he was running his own goalkeeping schools throughout Wales,” said Fairman. “Being the Everton legend that he is, he was dying to get involved and see how we could forge a partnership.

“Obviously part of my job is to try to produce the next Neville Southall or the next Tim Howard, so the opportunity to work with Nev and see how we could progress is fantastic.

“It’s been 40 years since Everton produced a homegrown goalkeeper into the first team and it’s something our Deputy CEO [Dr Denise Barrett-Baxendale MBE] is very passionate about rectifying.

“There’s talent out there and we’re working with as many kids as we can because we’ve got to find that talent and highlight it.”

Source: Echo