Website aims to help goalkeepers get noticed
Sep 2 2010 by John Hill, The Journal
MIDDLESBROUGH software company Sapere has overhauled a site in which goalkeepers can hone their skills and put themselves in the shop window.
The three-year-old business was selected by County Durham-born goalkeeping coach Fred Barber to update Prosoccer Keeper, a website which offers training videos featuring Barber with current professionals such as Jussi Jaaskelainen of Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic’s Ali Al Habsi.
Much-travelled in his playing days Barber, 47 last week, won promotions with both Darlington and Walsall. He is the full-time goalkeeping coach of Bolton Wanderers, but is also keen on the site’s potential as a meeting place for goalkeepers worldwide.
Manchester City’s 23-year-old stopper Joe Hart is currently the new hope between the posts for England, but Barber sees the site as a potential boost for budding goalkeepers in both the pro and amateur game.
He said: “With the current England 2018 bid to host the World Cup underway, what better time to follow the euphoria and boost both the potential and opportunities of the nation’s goalkeepers?”
Sapere’s operations director Paul Drake said the company were recommended to Barber by a client, and set about designing and developing the site over a six month period.
The site will be re-launched in October, complete with a shop featuring endorsed goalkeeping products, a forum for budding goalkeepers to exchange tips, and even a space where they can post CVs and links to Youtube videos in the hope of picking up jobs. While it costs a fee to upload details, it is free for scouts to enter.
Drake said: “It gives people a platform where they might be spotted. It’s apparently very difficult to be scouted but this provides another route.
“Goalkeepers looking for clubs can upload a profile with their playing history and video links to Youtube. Scouts can go on to the site to look for keepers, whether they’re professional or amateur or just kids. It’s worldwide, and we’ve had interest from places like Nigeria and the United States.”
The core element to the site is still the training videos, which feature Barber putting pros and amateurs through their paces. Drake said: “Fred will go through his unique training regime with goalkeepers like Jussi and amateurs. It shows you how to copy these skills rather than try to work them out from pictures in a book.”
Sapere has previously worked with companies such as Teesside Architectural Salvage, TD4U and DM Property Solutions. It features two directors and three subcontractors and provides services such as web, desktop and mobile application development.
Drake said: “We’ve worked for the chemical industries and financial institutes, and we’ve also set up e-commerce platforms. It’s been looking quite good for us since the start of the year.”
