Kid Gloves Sam starts with a win
YOU’VE all heard of the expression “Kid Gloves”.
Well, Jeanfield Swifts took that a bit too literally last Saturday when they handed a competitive debut to 15-year-old keeper Sam Townsley.
The Taysiders moved from the junior ranks to join the East of Scotland Football League Conference C this season.
Swifts manager Ross Gunnion – who instead of signing a keeper on loan because experienced No.1 Mark Mitchell was unavailable due to being on holiday – pitched Townsley between the sticks for the SFA South Region Challenge Cup second-round tie against Vale of Leithen.
Jeanfield won 4-2 but Townsley had more than earned his shot at glory after turning out for Swifts’ youth side which has been run by his father Andy for the past seven years.
Sam said: “I’ve been at Jeanfield Swifts since I was nine and my dad’s been my coach all that time.
“I found out I was playing for the first team BY ANTHONY HAGGERTY on the Wednesday night before the game last Saturday and it certainly ensured a few sleepless nights.
“It came as a real shock as I didn’t realise the regular No.1 was on holiday. But I just made up my mind to treat it as a normal game.
“I tried to blank out my nerves because if I thought about it too much I would probably have made a mistake.”
Townsley says he quickly settled after an early clearance in the tie.
He said: “After I came out and punched the first cross away that gave me confidence, helped relax me and I then settled into the match.
“It was a fantastic experience and it was a lot different to what I was used to.
“It felt really good knowing that, at such a young age, I can play against adults.
“I would love to play for Jeanfield Swifts more often now that I have had a taste of it.”