Changing stoppers set five star record

The goalkeeping merry-go-round at Dimple Wells in recent weeks looks to have set a new Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club record that could keep football quiz masters going for years!

When Ossett Albion keeper Adam Rhodes, pictured, returned from injury to play in their 2-0 victory away at Clitheroe in First Division North on Saturday, he became the club’s fifth different custodian in five consecutive competitive games, leaving club historian Geoff Pyke trawling through his records checking for the unlikely chance that it had ever happened before.

Rhodes' first deputy was former New Mills and Trafford man Ryan Pugh who played on Boxing Day in the Ossett derby. On Christmas Saturday against Curzon Ashton, former Albion keeper Phil Wood who retired a couple of years ago to take up rugby, stepped in to help out. Unavailable on New Year’s Day for the trip to Farsley’s Throstle Nest, he was replaced by a second ex-Albion man, Ashley Connor, who answered another late call from manager Richard Tracey!

With Rhodes still injured and the earlier replacements unavailable, Tracey then signed ex-Liversedge goalkeeper Jamie Abbott who turned out against current leaders Warrington Town. Despite being injured early on in the 2-1 reverse at Dimple Wells, he completed the match but had not recovered in time to play at Shawbridge, forcing a partially fit Rhodes to return and record a clean sheet.

Image courtesy of Adam Hirst