“I don’t usually get picked for post-match,” says U21s goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge, laughing after a 3-3 draw with Southampton on Friday night.
“It’s never good when it’s the ‘keeper.”
Of course, that’s the cliché at least. But Knightbridge certainly deserves the plaudits.
A string of delightful saves from the No1 was applauded by many in the stands. Not least a hatful of supporters invited from Frontline Partnership, a charity based in his hometown Brentwood, who he volunteers with each Tuesday evening.
Frontline offers community-based experiences to people with a learning disability and high support needs who are at risk of being excluded from many of the simple pleasures and experiences of everyday life.
One of those simple pleasures is football. And the charity’s team, led by coach Harry Wellington, was in attendance on Friday night.
“It is really nice to celebrate the point after the game with them,” Knightbridge explained. “It was great to be able to show everyone where I work, and it was good that it was an entertaining game, and we got a good result as well.
“I volunteer with the charity through my church, and it gives me something to lean on and it is nice to be able to give something back. It’s a great community there and it means a lot to everyone there because it’s like a family.
“It is nice to take a step away from football and it is good I can do that in an environment where you are helping others.”
Knightbridge continues to explain the importance of his faith and why he volunteers each week. There is no connection through the Club, it is something the youngster has taken to doing off his own back – and something he is immensely proud of too.
“It wouldn’t have been great if I had a bad game!” he jokes. “I turned it on a bit with those saves at the end. You have to when you invite people down to watch!”
The performances have been at that level constantly this season, as Knightbridge has been in inspired form; one of the shining lights of the Irons’ positive start to the PL2 campaign.
There is doubting that a loan to non-league Harrow Borough last season and the experience of playing men’s football have pushed his confidence both on and off the field.
For most of Friday’s game, he was the loudest on the pitch. A role he admits he has grown into over the last 12 months.
“It is important for a goalkeeper to communicate from the back because you can see the whole pitch,” he adds. “I can tell players where the opposition are, where they should be if they are out of position, and where the ball is.
“At other times, you can use your voice to raise the intensity pushing the boys on. I think playing men’s football has helped with that because you were forced to step up.”
Knightbridge certainly played his part as the U21s pushed on. A string of saves to keep the deficit at one allowed the Hammers to charge forward and see Callum Marshall rescue a point in stoppage time.
The focus shifts to the striker of course but the performance of the goalkeeper should not be underestimated.
“Being in goal you don’t get to score the goals, but you get to help the team out with big saves in those moments,” he agrees.
“The first half I was probably fairly busy and had to make a few saves but in the second I had one or two big stops, and it is about staying in the game then. If you can’t win the games, don’t lose them. So, we are happy to come away with a point when it looked like we weren’t going to get anything.”
