In a figurative sense, I answered an emergency phone call while at Blackpool FC, I had recently returned from a long-term injury lay off after rupturing my Achilles tendon. I was unable to gain match fitness with my own club and was getting desperate for games.
It was late October, and the transfer window was shut, my only hope was an emergency loan, it is not straight forward and requires many conditions.
- Clubs are permitted to sign a goalkeeper on a seven-day ‘emergency loan’ basis if they do not have a senior goalkeeper that has made five first-team appearances.
- Clubs will be able to recall a goalkeeper at 24 hours’ notice from a loan at another club if they are unable to field two fit goalkeepers in their 18-man matchday squad.
- A player registered on a standard loan may continue to play non-first team football for his parent club during the term of his loan period.
Finishing training with Blackpool on a routine Monday I did what most players do, I checked my phone and had a voicemail from a number not already saved in my phone, I immediately listened to it, Salford FC goalkeeper coach, Carlo Nash. He introduced himself and asked if I could return his call.
I returned his call instantly; they had one keeper out injured already and during training that day the other first-team keeper had injured a finger. It was the perfect fit for them and me, I headed straight the Blackpool club secretary to sign the forms. It would be a short-term loan for 7 days. No thinking was required.
The next day I reported in the evening straight to the Salford stadium and met the team bus, that was heading to Mansfield Town away, I was given a club tracksuit, however, FA approval still hadn’t been granted. Fortunately, during our pre-match meal, the manager (Graham Alexander) pulled me to one side and confirmed everything had gone through.
We wone the match 2-1 and I remember having a good game, making a few saves towards the final few minutes, considering I hadn’t trained with the team or not knowing many names it was a good debut. Saturday came around quickly, facing the managers former team Scunthorpe United, the match ended a 1-1 draw, immediately after the game I was asked if I wanted to continue my emergency loan for a further 7 days and play one game.
That week first-team goalkeeper Kyle Letheren returned to training after his finger dislocation, but due to my loan being pre-arranged with the FA I was allowed to play, we went on to beat Newport County, I saved a last-minute penalty to confirm the victory.
With that my loan move ended and I returned the following Monday to training for Blackpool as if nothing had happened, it was a strange scenario, but a very enjoyable one.
In football unexpected things happen, especially in the world of goalkeeping.