Northwood relishes dual for number one jersey - EXCLUSIVE

Goalkeeper Steve Northwood hopes to celebrate his 30^th birthday by earning a deal with Ryman Premier League side Heybridge Swifts, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dartford based goalkeeper, who celebrates his 30^th birthday in two-weeks time, is getting himself fit to become the Essex side’s number one shot stopper.

Heybridge Swifts’ manager, Brian Statham, has invited the former Cray Wanderers goalkeeper, who ended last season with a Kent League Cup winners medal whilst playing for Thamesmead Town, for pre-season training.

“What’s happened is, I had a phone call out of the blue about a month ago from Brian Statham, their manager,” Northwood said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Basically he said “you’ve been recommended to us,” do you want to come for a trial?”

“He sent me a pre-season training schedule to get myself fit before pre-season started.”

Northwood, who started his playing career with Fleetdown United, doesn’t know who he’ll will be battling it out for the number one jersey at Scraley Road.

He said: “He’s playing with two goalkeepers in the squad, which he hasn’t had before, and he’s just offering me the opportunity to be one of them.”

And Northwood is relishing trying to keep Tonbridge Angels star-striker, Jon Main off the score sheet when the two sides face each other in the Ryman Premier League next season.

“Obviously I’ve never played in that league before but when I played against sides in that league when I was at Cray, I felt I never looked out of place,” he said.

“I know all about Jon Main, having played with him at Cray, and he’s a friend of mine as well.

“He’s staying (at Tonbridge Angels) for another year and that’s a benefit for the league as well.”

Speaking about his pre-season training regime, Northwood added: “I’ve had to knuckle down to be fair. I had two weeks off to spend a little bit of time with the wife and the little ‘un and this Saturday I’m going on holiday for a week to Marbella.

“Pre-season training starts on the 30^th, which is the day I come back, so I’ll miss that one, but he (Brian Statham) knows I’m going (to the trial).

“It’s not a problem if I stick to the pre-season training schedule.”

Northwood admitted he’s looking forward to playing under former Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and Gillingham star Statham.

“He’s been there a couple of years now and he’s done a very good job here,” he said.

“This season he’s had to rebuild the squad (but) I don’t know the squad he’s got up there.

“He’s re-signed a few players from (last season, but) I’ve never come up against them in a game at all.”

Despite residing in Dartford, the goalkeeper admits his job as a sales manager will not hinder his footballing commitments whilst he drives to deepest Essex for training and home matches.

“The area I work in, my actual sales region is Essex and north London so it’s not a much of a problem,” he said.  “It’s only 45 minutes from Dartford to Heybridge, so it’s not that bad at all.”

Despite losing his place in the Cray Wanderers first team to Grant Hall in March, Northwood has no ill-feeling towards Ian Jenkins, the Wands’ manager.

“I left Cray on fairly good terms and I was with the chairman today doing business,” he said.

“I spoke to Jenko (Ian Jenkins) a couple of weeks ago and he said he was trying to get (Dover Athletic goalkeeper) Glen Knight in - we parted on good terms and I still get on with him.”

Northwood has yet visited Heybridge Swifts’ ground, but has heard good things about the club, adding: “I’ve heard good things, their playing surface is fantastic and so is the set-up there.”