MAGPIE CARL IS PLAYING FOR KEEPS!
IT TOOK goalkeeper Carl Pentney almost ten years to rack up 46 appearances – but now the Maidenhead United number one is loving life.
The 29-year-old began his career at Leicester but played just once, as a substitute in League One, amid a host of loan spells at Non-League clubs.
A move to Colchester in 2010 suggested things might change but three years later he mutually terminated his contract without a single minute under his belt and only more miles around the semi-professional scene.
He signed for Bishop’s Stortford and finally strung a spell of games together before joining Chelmsford and then Braintree, where he first worked with current manager Alan Devonshire.
“It’s hard being a goalkeeper because it’s such a specific position in a team,” Pentney told The NLP.
“It’s hard for goalkeepers to break through too, especially in the Football League. I was at Leicester from 16 until 21. It’s a big club with some great coaches. It was a good upbringing but I didn’t play.
“I sat on the bench at Colchester which was frustrating. I had to keep my head up and keep working hard, I had to be patient and wait for my time, and I’m making the most out of it now.
“When you get that opportunity it is key you grab it with both hands so that you keep your place. The main thing for me is playing week in, week out.”
Under Devonshire, Pentney has been able to flourish in the top two tiers of Non-League, racking up 130 appearances across three seasons.
He enjoyed winning the National South title last year and then caught the eye as Maidenhead finished 12th in their debut National League season with a string of impressive performances. “Last year was really good,” he adds. “It’s a tough league to play in, but we kept the momentum from winning the South and most of that squad which is really tightly knit. We definitely held our own. “I’m going into my fifth season with the gaffer now and it’s been great playing under him. “He’s got loads of experience, of not only the level but also football, and he passes that on. “I live in Colchester so I travel a bit but I love playing for Maidenhead. It’s nice to find a club and be settled. “I want to play at the highest level I can for as long as I can.” Pentney runs his own goalkeeping academy which keeps him on his toes during the week. “I’ve been running it for six years now and we’ve had quite a few kids move on to train at pro clubs in and around Essex. “One of the main reasons I set it up was because there was no goalkeeping coaching around there. It’s fantastic to see youngsters playing football and enjoying it. “Football has been my life and to be able to play at a high level and also coach is great. It’s nice trying to pass on some of my experience as well. “I tell the youngsters to be patient and work hard – that’s what I had to do.”