A former professional goalkeeper is determined to find a saviour for English football after the national team dramatically failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

England's keeper Scott Carson's blunder in conceding the opening goal after only eight minutes paved the way for the pitiful 3-2 defeat to Croatia.

Now Collin MacDonald, who played for Watford, Hibernian and Dundee and runs a goalkeeper training school in Bingley, has set himself the challenge of unearthing a safe pair of hands for the national team within a decade.

Mr MacDonald, who has played under top trainers and managers including former England boss Graham Taylor, believes basic skills are lacking among the country's elite keepers.

And he lambasted foreign goalkeepers and their "bad habits" and said the team needs to go back to basics.

He said: "It is no surprise to me that England are out of Euro 2008.

"Watching the current crop of English keepers is painful. They can make brilliant saves now and again, but over a game of 90 minutes there will always be a mistake that will affect their team's performance - concentration is a vital factor within the game.

"As a goalkeeper you have a view of the whole pitch. You therefore should be looking to dictate what is happening in front of you.

"The effect that a goalkeeper can have on their team is enormous but, alas, it is not an area that has been worked on while this current crop of keepers have come through their respective ranks.

"Nobody talks any more. Throw in the amount of basic mistakes that have been made throughout this current campaign by the keepers, silly schoolboy type errors, and you see why England won't be part of Euro 2008.

"Also, I'm so fed up with watching these foreign keepers, and their own bad habits - not one of them catches a football."

Mr MacDonald says that his 1 Goalkeeper School promotes old-fashioned basics, which include keepers catching the ball and talking to defenders.

And he reckons there are already one or two of his prodigies who are set for the top.

He said: "My logic is to work on good habits - safe hands and quick feet.

"I take my keepers on a tour of the football field and teach angles for distribution. I teach communication, and positioning when the ball is in the opposite goalmouth. I teach what a goalkeeper needs to know.

"I've coached youngsters in Scandinavia, Portugal and Greece, as well as the United States, but living and coaching in Yorkshire has, without doubt, given me the most pleasure. I don't teach ability, that must be a natural asset. For me, a goalkeeper is born, and not made."

For more information about the 1 Goalkeeper School, call 07853 291773 or e-mail enquiries.1@hotmail.co.uk e-mail: mel.fairhurst@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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