Goalkeeper crisis forces 57-year-old manager to pull on the gloves
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A 57-year-old manager made Peninsula League history last Saturday when he started Penzance's match against Liverton Town because both of his goalkeepers were somehow unavailable.
Former goalkeeper John Dent just took over as manager of the South West Peninsula League Division One West club - the seventh tier of English football - at the start of September.
However, he was forced to make a return between the sticks after discovering the club's two regular goalkeepers, Paul Williams and Gavin Power, were unable to travel due to other commitments.
Dent said in This is Cornwall: "I spoke to our secretary on Friday and said that I'd play, but we'd have to keep it from my wife!
"It was funny, because on the way to the game one of our players, Luke Rudkin asked me if I'd ever played in goal before, which shows just how young some of these players are compared to me."
Dent, who ended his playing career at the age of 43 in 1998, allowed four goals in the first half, but he did keep a clean sheet in the second half as Penzance made it a bit more respectable by scoring twice for a 4-2 final score.
He added: "When Liverton went 4-0 up I thought 'what the hell am I doing?' but thankfully we were much better in the second half.
"I did enjoy it, and I've had some lovely messages but I think that's it now – though I said that last time!"
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| John Dent had no option but to pull on the gloves for the first time in 14 years |
Former goalkeeper John Dent just took over as manager of the South West Peninsula League Division One West club - the seventh tier of English football - at the start of September.
However, he was forced to make a return between the sticks after discovering the club's two regular goalkeepers, Paul Williams and Gavin Power, were unable to travel due to other commitments.
Dent said in This is Cornwall: "I spoke to our secretary on Friday and said that I'd play, but we'd have to keep it from my wife!
"It was funny, because on the way to the game one of our players, Luke Rudkin asked me if I'd ever played in goal before, which shows just how young some of these players are compared to me."
Dent, who ended his playing career at the age of 43 in 1998, allowed four goals in the first half, but he did keep a clean sheet in the second half as Penzance made it a bit more respectable by scoring twice for a 4-2 final score.
He added: "When Liverton went 4-0 up I thought 'what the hell am I doing?' but thankfully we were much better in the second half.
"I did enjoy it, and I've had some lovely messages but I think that's it now – though I said that last time!"
Also see:
