Talented stopper earns dream move

Belper Town manager Peter Duffield has described keeper Aaron Chapman as an 'exciting, raw talent with bags of potential' after he left the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Nailers on Friday to sign for League Two Chesterfield.

The young stopper, 22, joined the First Division South club in February 2012 and produced a string of commanding performances last season before completing his dream move and signing a one-year contract with the Spireites. As part of the deal, Belper hope Chesterfield will send a first team squad to Christchurch Meadow in pre-season.

Chapman, pictured, leaves with the best wishes of his former manager who said: "If he has to leave, it's good he has gone up into the Football League rather than just one division higher. Credit to Chesterfield for deciding to take a player out of the Non-League system. It's also a credit to this club because it shows this is the sort of place that people can come to and progress.

"We are bitterly disappointed we didn't get promoted but we wouldn't stand in the way of people who get the chance to move up the leagues. So it reflects well on both clubs and also on Aaron that he has attracted the attention of a league club. We have been good for Aaron - and he’s been good for us, so he leaves with our best wishes."

Duffield has no doubt that Chapman's qualities will impress his new employers. He added: "He is unbelievably agile for someone of his height, about six feet seven. He's a thin lad, there's not much on him, but he's commanding and he's coming to catch balls that other keepers would either not come for, or would punch.

"He's only 22 and only been keeping for two to three years, that's the amazing thing. He does it all by instinct. We have grounded him in the basics of professionalism here, that sort of thing, but keeping is a specialised position and he will get that sort of specialised coaching at Chesterfield."

Duffield added: "He's a great lad, I've never had a moment's problems with him. He has so much exciting raw talent and bags of potential so it's great for him. We wish him well and it's a terrific opportunity for him to make use of his talent. It also shows players in Non-League that it's not a fairy tale and you can get picked up by a League club if the talent, attitude and hard work is there."