IN SAFE HANDS
Rochdale goalkeeper Jay Lynch seizes his new chance in the EFL
HUNGRY Rochdale goalkeeper Jay Lynch is determined to grab his second chance in the EFL with both hands – and has thanked Non-League football for helping him get back there.
The 26-year-old joined the League One side at the end of August after a long summer of staying patient for a new club.
Lynch was considered one of the best keepers outside the Football League after shining for National League side AFC Fylde following two promotions with Salford City.
He won the Goalkeeper of the Year Award at the National Game Awards – organised by The FLP’s sister title The NonLeague Paper – last term and felt the time had come to make the step back up.
And he is convinced his four years in Non-League football after leaving Bolton and a brief spell at Accrington, have been the making of him.
“When you’ve got no games on your CV, then you’ve just got to get out there,” said Lynch, who won the FA Trophy with Fylde last season a week after they lost the play-off final to Salford City.
“I was fortunate that Salford wanted to take me originally and then Fylde. I was lucky enough to be quite successful in Non-League so I felt like I earned my move to the League because of the groundwork I put in.
“The standard in NonLeague is very good and I always advise young people to go and play games there because of that.
“Different scenarios, different games, different pitches – everything about it is different game-by-game and that is standing me in good stead now I’ve come into the Football League.
“At Salford we were expected to do well, but it’s good to play under a little bit of pressure because it gives you something worth fighting for.
“At Fylde we were close to promotion the first year and then even closer the second year. It’s all good pressure. It gives you something to look forward to and work towards.”
At around 6ft, Lynch isn’t the archetypal tall goalkeeper – something that has unfairly held him back – but he’s consistently shown his agility and ground game are good enough to play at League level.
After deciding to leave Fylde, he faced an anxious wait for his next move. He began training with Dale and boss Brian Barry-Murphy saw enough to offer him a first-team deal.
Challenge
And when Brighton loanee Robert Sanchez fell to injury, the manager had no hesitation in handing Lynch his League One debut at former club Bolton a few weeks ago, Dale triumphing 3-1.
“Going off the back of last year, I just felt it was the right time for me to step up,” Lynch said. “Through the summer it dragged on a bit but I was waiting for the right club to fit me.
“I was just keeping myself fit. I know it’s not ideal for keepers to be running but I went out every day and I went to the gym to keep my power up.
“Then the opportunity came along to go into Rochdale just to train, which I was happy to do because I wanted to be sharp.
“I didn’t see it as a trial or anything, I just saw it as a chance to get my eye in. For goalkeepers, it’s all about seeing the ball and picking up the speed. I really enjoyed it. Then it worked out that the manager wanted to sign me.
“Even when I was just training with the lads, they really welcomed me in – it’s a really good squad that we’ve got. We’ve got a lot of young lads coming through and then experienced players like Ian Henderson and Aaron Wilbraham.
“The style of play the manager at Rochdale wants to play suits me and it’s good to test myself in League One. I’m really enjoying it.”