AFTER Jacob Kirwan stopped three spot-kicks during a shootout to help his Sunday League side win a knockout semi-final in April, he was posed a question.
“How many penalties have you saved this season?” asked a follower on social media.
The young goalkeeper didn’t reply.
He wasn’t being rude; he simply didn’t know.
“I wasn’t keeping count!” he told The NLP.
The tally before kick-off that night was already in double digits, and rose to 14 before the celebrations of George & Dragon’s players could start.
Kirwan, first choice for Alsager Town in the North West Counties League’s Division One South last term, has developed quite a reputation as a consequence.
He saved eight penalties while between the posts for the Cheshire side, split equally between shootouts and regular game time.
“I’m a really good guesser,” quipped the 21-year-old when asked how he did it.
This story is from the August 11, 2024 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
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This story is from the August 11, 2024 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
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