Stopper Aims To Emulate Dad

Tyrell Belford hopes the FA Youth Cup will provide him with the perfect opportunity to add another winners' medal to the family mantelpiece.

The 16-year-old's father, Dale, was once on Aston Villa's books as a goalkeeper and went on to win the 1989 FA Vase with Tamworth.

Belford junior admits his Dad has been a major influence on his fledgling career and hopes he can enhance the family name by going on to enjoy success at the highest level in the future.

"My Dad was at Aston Villa as a young lad," he told us during a chat at the Academy recently.

"He featured in their reserves but never for the first team. He went on to play for Notts County and then won the FA Vase with non-league side, Tamworth.

"He's really proud to have played at Wembley and won a trophy there. I'd love to start my career by getting into that winning habit. It'd be nice to do that in this year's FA Youth Cup."

Football is clearly in the Belford blood.

Not only is his father now the part-time boss of the Southern Football League Division One Central outfit, Atherstone Town, but his brother Cameron is also a highly-rated custodian at Bury.

With so many goalkeepers to look up to, it is no surprise to hear that the 16-year-old is not short of a pointer or two. But what about sibling rivalry? Has there always been a desire to match his brother's achievements?

"Not really," he said. "I want him to do well. He's first choice 'keeper at Bury and he's worked hard to get where he is.

"I try to get along to watch him in action as much as possible. My dad comes along too. If anything I try to learn from Cameron because he is playing at a decent level. There are things in his game that I can pick up and improve in my own game."

Donning the No.1 jersey may well be a family trait but when it comes to the world's best shot stoppers few can match Liverpool's current first-choice, according to Belford.

"Pepe's definitely the best in the Barclays Premier League," he said.

"He always plays at a good standard and never lets anything get him down. I was reading an interview with him the other day where he said: 'If I make a mistake I just forget about it and focuses on the rest of the game.'

"That's what separates good goalkeepers from great 'keepers. If they make a mistake they are able to put it out of their mind.

"If you continue to dwell on an error you will make the situation a lot worse. If a 'keeper makes a single error it's a goal, that's the reality of the job.

"An outfield player can make hundreds of errors without any of them ever resulting in the ball going in the net. As a 'keeper you can't do that."

Belford's maturity belies his tender years and it is further evident when he is quizzed about his battle for the U18s' goalkeeping jersey with former Swindon starlet, Jamie Stephens.

The duo have developed a strong rivalry on the pitch but Belford feels that their friendship off it means that whoever gets the call on a match day will have the unwavering support of his teammate.

"We get on very well, both on and off the pitch," he added.

"It's a dog eat dog situation on the pitch because we will both fight for the shirt. But we do spend a lot of time together. He's a good lad and we get on well."