Our goalkeeping coach, Dale Walker took time out from pre-season training to chat to the website about how training is going with the goalkeepers and his new ventures.
“I think with goalkeepers, you are working in small groups anyway. In terms of social distancing and the concerns with the pandemic, it’s pretty much business as usual. We’ve got a group of three there, they are all working hard with plenty of energy and plenty of purpose. It shows when they go into team drills, the level of work they’ve been putting in.”
The former Aldershot stopper was also quick to acknowledge Dan Lowson as being one of the best in the league.
“A question that all goalkeeping coaches are asked is how can they improve a top ‘keeper. Dan is very committed to everything he does, he is very single-minded. He knows exactly what he wants and has earned a reputation of being one of the best around and deservedly so. I’d like to think that he has gained things from me; I like to keep training disciplined so whether I am teaching him something new or polishing it up, that’s all I can do.”
Touching on his own business ventures as he launches Actua1ze coaching, Dale told us how this is something he’s always wanted to do.
“I’ve spent the last 2 or 3 years developing Actua1ze goalkeeping which is my goalkeeping academy, very much on a part time basis. Ironically, I was getting well into it and really focused on it and then I got a call from Nicky Gray asking if I wanted to come and work at Morpeth. My head got turned and I knew I couldn’t turn that opportunity down. It’s moving on now and I’m leaving my day job in a couple of weeks and I’m taking this up as a full-time interest. I’d like to think I’ve gone about it in the right way. I’m not just looking to develop young goalkeepers in the area, I’m wanting to develop people as well. I’ve got my qualifications, but I’ve also done Sports Psychology so it’s a bit of value added for the people I work with.”
Sam Donovan
