BTEC student gets call-up to train with Cod Army keepers

Fleetwood Town Community Sports College student Matty Garrett got the opportunity of a lifetime to train with the Fleetwood Town first team goalkeepers after showcasing his skills at Poolfoot Farm.

Matty, 16, joined the Sports College in September after leaving High School, and got the opportunity on Monday afternoon to train with first team goalkeeper Alex Cairns and goalkeeper coach, Dave Lucas.

The young goalkeeper plays semi-professional at Lancaster City, but when he was diving around on the 3G pitches at Poolfoot, he never thought he would get a call from Lucas to assist with an important first team session.“I was just playing football with my friends and I never expected Dave to invite me over to train with the goalkeepers,” said Garrett.“When I got to the training area, I was nervous but very excited to be there. I was introduced to Alex Cairns and Matt Gilks and they made me feel really welcome and we got straight into the session they had planned.

“I have met Alex before and had a picture with him but to be training with him, it was a dream come true!”

Matty’s BTEC Lecturer, Joseph Newson, was delighted when he heard one of his students was given the opportunity to shine, and knows these chances don’t come around often.

“Matty has been a pleasure to work with since he stepped through the door. To hear he was called up to help out in the training session with Dave Lucas and the goalkeepers, it really was one of those proud moments.

“Opportunities like this don’t come around often and that is a lesson to pass onto the students. You never know who is watching you, especially when we are in that professional environment – it just allows us to enhance our student’s learning in the classroom as well as on the pitch during training sessions and matches.”

If you want to join the Fleetwood Town Community Sports College, and are interested in studying sport after High School, we invite you to our BTEC Open Evening on Wednesday 16 October at Poolfoot Farm.

For further details on the programme, please call 01253 208440.