Courtesy: Surrey On Line

Keeper Eric's ready and waiting

Apr 6 2005

By Alex Wright


GOALKEEPER Eric Barrett was hoping to line up for his country when he was selected for the England Futsal team to play in a tournament up in Edinburgh.

Barrett started off his career at Brighton and Hove Albion as a youngster before moving on to Crawley Town reserves and then Gloucester City and coming back to his roots with Pease Pottage and onto Egham Town.

He was picked for the 25-man squad to compete in the sport, a modified version of five-aside, at the British Universities Home Nations competition taking place in Scotland last Monday.

The 21-year-old from Three Bridges, who is studying for a degree in psychology at South Bank University in London, has already played in a tournament in France last month against the home nation, Romania and Finland.

He said: "We didn't do very well, but then they have been playing for 10 years and we have only been playing for two years."

Then it was off to Belgium to compete in a couple of games against the Belgium U21s at the end of the month.

England lost both games, but Barrett only conceded three goals.

Barrett hopes to be chosen for the England team that goes to Turkey in August as it is whittled down from 25 to 20.

Asked about the impending competition, he replied: "It is a good experience and it puts you in the shop window for big clubs to see you.

"In futsal there are a lot more strict rules and bigger goals.

"The goalkeepers link in a lot more," he said. "You feel a lot more involved and it is a lot quicker than 11 aside matches."