TWO Weymouth Youth goalkeepers have taken their first steps on the road to being offered contracts with a professional football club.

Chris Povall and Matt Cafer have both been accepted into Reading Academy after successfully completing trials at the Championship club.

Povall dons the gloves for Weymouth Under-15s while Cafer is the custodian for Weymouth Terras Under-15s, and each stopper has been in sparkling form this term.

Being enrolled in the academy does not guarantee the pair’s future at the Royals but it will ensure that their potential is nurtured under watchful guidance.

And Jay Gibbs, head coach of Just4Keepers, is adamant that both Povall and Cafer possess the attributes to realise their dream of playing professional football for a living.

“A scout came down to watch them and there’s no way I’d have put them forward for the trial had I not been convinced about their potential,” he told Echosport.

“They have come on leaps and bounds in the six months they have been here. I am delighted with their progress and Weymouth FC also deserve recognition for their hard work.

“The trial involved them being put into game situations and tested on decision-making and technical skills such as shot-stopping, dealing with crosses, positioning, kicking and communication.

“Now that they are part of the academy at Reading they will go up there for training every Tuesday evening and Wednesday.

“Hopefully they will progress through the ranks but because of their age it will be three or four years before they can be offered a professional contract.”

Just4Keepers, the largest training school for glovemen world-wide, has facilitated more than 200 youngsters’ graduation into professional clubs since forming seven years ago.

Both Povall and Cafer, who also secured trials at Bristol City, will now be sponsored by the company and receive all their gear for free.