Reds stopper in lead vocal role
GOALKEEPER Toby Savin is finding his voice as a fabulous run of form has seen the young goalkeeper’s confidence soar since the start of the season.
The Southport-born stopper was looking to keep a sixth consecutive clean sheet when the Reds travelled to Shrewsbury Town in Sky Bet League One on Wednesday night as the Observer went to press.
The Reds went into the game unbeaten in five matches, with four wins in that, and were looking to close in on a top six place.
Regardless of the result against the Shrews, it’s been a terrific start to his footballing career for the 19-year-old who has started every league game so far this season and, after coming through the ranks at the Wham Stadium, admits he is still pinching himself.
“At the start of the season, I didn’t know if I would get in the team so to get in and play every league game until now and keep as many clean sheets and for us to be where we are in the table, it’s obviously been a dream start,” Savin told the club’s official website.
“It’s unbelievable, something I never dreamed of, being a keeper at my age in this league and having the fourth most clean sheets in the league.
“My confidence has rocketed playing week in week out in men’s football and in a league as tough as this.
“It’s built my confidence and hopefully that’s been shown to the fans and the gaffer and my team mates. Hopefully it shows how confident I am and that I can withstand the pressure in this league.”
Savin admits he has learnt to be more vocal on the pitch, even to more experienced defenders like Mark Hughes.
“At first it was hard shouting at more experienced players but it comes with the job of goalkeeper,” he said.
“You have got to be loud, the defence have got to know you are there and I am sure they appreciate it and that’s what they want their keeper to do.”
Savin, who signed a new contract until 2023, is battling with Chelsea loan stopper Nathan Baxter for the No. 1 spot while youth team keeper Liam Isherwood is also training with the goalies.
“It’s healthy competition like last year, I am used to it,” he added.
“It’s good having someone like Nathan from a top club who’s got the ability that he has got which pushes me further.
“Young Liam is coming through like I did and he has got great ability. We push each other to do better every day.
“Hopefully we can keep the run going, the lads have been unbelievable, keeping clean sheets, it’s the defence as well. Joe Pritchard has been unbelievable, Jon Russell, I could go through the whole team as it’s everyone who has kept this run going.”
While Stanley fans were unable to attend Wednesday’s game, Savin was excited by the prospect of playing before supporters at the Montgomery Water Meadow Stadium, with Shropshire in Tier 2. It meant 2,000 Shrews fans were permitted to attend the game.
“It’s the first time fans are back in and I can’t wait for the buzz and atmosphere even though is a couple of thousands and it is all their fans.
“It’s all we have wanted for a couple of months so I will take any amount of fans of the minute.”