Does anyone want the Northbrook reserve goalkeeper's jersey?

The Worthing and District League Division One team have tried almost everyone to fill the problem position since regular Ralph Evans got himself injured.

Dougie Bennett's recent appearance between the sticks was the team's 12th goalkeeper.

Now player-manager Colin Finnegan will be scratching his head during the summer months and praying Ralph will be back as their No. 1.

He said: "It has been a nightmare. Ralph has either been playing for the first team or injured. Now we realise how valuable he is to our cause.

"We've struggled to find anyone in the team that is decent enough to do a good job. And hardly anyone has kept the position for more than two matches."

Even Colin took up the responsibility of putting on the gloves - much against the advice of team-mates.

"They were worried about my height, but we didn't seem to be doing that well with the tall lads. I played three matches and gradually got worse."

Northbrook's Division One side have almost become a standing joke in the league. But their large squad of keepers have managed to pull them out of relegation danger and unless the first team find themselves demoted from the Premier Division they will maintain their status.

Colin did have Matthew May play for the team this season and admits the Worthing first team keeper was easily the best of the bunch.

He said: "He's first class, but now the boy's playing for Sammy Donnelly's Ryman League side he can't turn out for us.

"Ralph Evans is a good shot-stopper and I hope he's back for us next season.

"Phil Wood is our left-back and he did quite well stopping shots and collecting crosses.

"I (Colin Finnegan) was a good shot-stopper, but am prone to being lobbed.

"Peter Kaye is a natural keeper but hadn't played for years and got caught out on the backpass rule a few times.

"Bob Culley is the wrong side of 40. He was a good shotstopper but not very mobile.

"Ben Stone was not mobile, not good at stopping shots and just filled a hole.

"We found a reasonable keeper in Graham Avinou. He is good stopping shots but a bit dodgy coming for crosses.

"Everything was looking good for Pete Wilson in his game. He kept a clean sheet in the first half but it was too good to be true and he was picking the ball out of the back of the net five times after the break.

"Surprisingly Jarrod Manchee was very good. He even saved a penalty!

"Tim Hughes was a superb goalkeeper but is not always available to play. He would have been a good long-term replacement.

"Then finally we had Dougie Bennett. He did well for us in our 3-2 win against JFB, which has effectively kept us up. He made a brilliant save in the last minute."

Worthing League and club secretary Laurie Claydon admitted he had not heard of such a big turnover in goalkeepers.

Northbrook have been in the news already this season, when they switched Mark Rhodes from a reserve game to a first team match being played simultaneously on an adjacent pitch.

Mark ended up scoring twice for the first team, including the winner.

The story, exclusively revealed in Park Life, made the national newspaper headlines.

I reckon Northbrook have suffered one of the biggest goalkeeper problems ever in Sussex. Let me know if you have bettered Northbrook's effort this season, or know of a bigger turnover in a previous season.

And if you are a decent keeper and fancy playing regular next season Colin would love to hear from you!