BUDDING goalkeepers at Balby Carr Sports College were due for a training session with one of their sixth formers.

But they finished the day with a selection of tips from legendary former England, Liverpool and Spurs star Ray Clemence.

Pupils picking up tips from sixth former Jamie Qualter, who plays for Dinnington Town under-19s, were taken aside and given expert advice from Ray, who is now England goalkeeping coach and whose glittering career included three European Cup medals and 61 England caps.

Ray gave an impromptu advice session after stepping in to open the new synthetic pitch at the school.

Sir Trevor Brooking had been originally lined up to open the facility, but Ray stepped in at short notice after Sir Trevor had to pull out.
And he was impressed by the facility he found at Balby, known as a third generation artificial pitch.

He said: "It is the latest 3G pitch and it's a fantastic facility. They're as close to natural grass as you can get."

During his visit to the school, the former international star toured the site and met pupils.

Ray was also given a dance demonstration by youngsters from Year 8 and 9 and showed the school's state of the art rowing training facilities, where he chatted with Year 10 pupil Danny Jones, a South Yorkshire rowing team member.

He then watched young players from Balby Tigers and the school's girls' football development centre training.

School football development manager Andy Battersby said: "He gave a few words of encouragement and hints and tips to the younger goalkeepers, and it was fantastic for the children to see someone like Ray coming here and talking to them.

"Once Ray had been on the pitches, he spent about 30 minutes meeting pupils and signing autographs for pupils - but he said he had no idea who would be the next England manager!"

The new pitches are open to the community and have been used already by Doncaster Rovers academy teams, 1st team and Doncaster Rovers Belles ladies' team.

The pitches are available for community use from 5pm until 10pm every night.

The School secured a grant of £600,000 from the Football Foundation to help pay for the new synthetic pitches, which cost in the region of £1 million.

The new surface is a third generation floodlit synthetic turf pitch, with the capabilities of hosting seven, six and five a side mini soccer in addition to full size games.

Martin Craig, Balby Carr headteacher of the College, added: "The new facility is a major step towards Balby Carr Community Sports College vision of providing a 'Sports Village' for the community of Balby and Hexthorpe.

"These are exciting times for the college and we know that our students and our community will reap great benefits from the quality new provision for sports."