Ray Newland: If you want to know EVERY single way how to get a trial with a professional football club… ASK RAY. From 16 years old, Ray tried to become a professional goalkeeper and club after club, told him that he was not good enough! Ray signed for Chester City as a YTS player but was released and ended up playing for Winsford United and for a couple of seasons for Newtown in the Welsh league were he won managers and players player of the year award/s. Ray signed for Everton and played for two season were he was recommend by the great Neville Southall to England Legend keeper Peter Shilton the then manager of Plymouth Argyle. Ray impressed Peter that much, he signed him has second choice keeper to himself. And in his first season with Plymouth Ray actually took the No 1 shirt off Peter Shilton. So all these nobodies who told Ray that he was no good for four years were quickly forgotten about in the space of 2 seasons, when two of the greatest keepers to come out of the UK, backed Ray to go all the way! (Kids… we hope you learnt something here about persistence and knowing your own ability!) Ray then went on to have eight seasons as a professional, were he played many professional games, for, Plymouth Argyle, a second spell at Chester City, Torquay Untied and Clydebank. He then moved to Wigan Athletic were a training ground accident finished his career aged just 28! Over his time as a professional, Ray was fortunate enough to be coached by several Legend International goalkeepers, which included, Peter Shilton, Neveille Southall, Peter Bonetti, Joe Corrigan and the great Gordon Banks. The knowledge Ray received from these 'Legends' he put into practise and started Just4keepers about 1999… and as the old saying goes ' The rest is history!' |