Luddenham United?s Riley Keayes a star in the making

Nowhere is this more evident than the rise and rise of 15-year-old goalkeeper Riley Keayes.
Keayes is a mild-mannered Year 10 Mitchell High School student by weekday and the last line of defence in a credentialed State League side by weekend, and the teenager is lapping up the high-pressure role asked of him in first grade football.
But even Keayes admits to pinching himself every now and then, particularly as goalkeeping was a position he least expected to cover when he joined Prospect United?s U6 team just on a decade ago.
?I never thought it would happen like this,? he said. ?I used to play midfield/striker when I first started and it was dad [Trevor] who talked me into being a goalkeeper when I was about 13. I thought he was crazy at first but it turned out that I liked it. I like being under pressure and I guess I do see myself as the last line of defence.?
?[As goalkeeper] you never get much of the raps; it?s always the goalscorers that get remembered, not the ones who save it.?
Keayes? passion for the number one jersey seemed to fit like, well, gloves, and it was a seamless progression into a Mount Druitt Town Rangers youth side before he wound up at prestige NSW Premier League club Sydney United in 2009. It was there he met coach Neno Padjen who ushered the tall athletic footballer toward a trial with Luddenham at the start of this year.
Up against more experienced keepers such as Bojan Radmillo, Keayes thought he might be in with a shot at the reserve grade job but impressed coach Andrew Montgomery with a maturity beyond his years.
?We had about 5-6 keepers trialling and Riley did outstandingly well. I didn?t realise he was 15 until I asked him. He looked very composed, whether it was coming out to collect the ball or shot stopping, and he showed the sort of confidence you would expect from young adults,? Montgomery said.
?Initially I was looking for a reserve keeper and even a third keeper to bolster the squad but he proved to be a real gem of a find, doing extremely well in the trials and pre-season matches.?
?Of course he still has to improve on a couple of things, but I certainly have no hesitation at all in throwing Riley onto the field. He?s still young, so it?s important to make sure that he?s always learning and enjoying himself as well as being focused on making sure the team does well.?
Keayes was thrilled to be handed the reserve grade spot but it wasn?t long before even that turned into a platform. With Radmillo missing in action against Fairfield Wanderers in round three Keayes was promoted into a first grade side that won 4-1, making him one of the youngest goalkeepers ? if not the youngest ? to ever start a State League match. 
?I wasn?t really daunted about playing with senior players. It is a lot of pressure but they have helped me through the mistakes I make and I?ve learnt quite a bit already this season about what I should and shouldn?t be doing,? Keayes said. ?Andrew trusts me and that helps me be more confident on the field.?
The well-spoken youngster?s team ambition is underlined by a distinct individual target. ?I think I?d rather keep a clean sheet than have a 2-1 win as it looks better for me,? he said. ?But there?s no point in me doing well if it?s not helping the team do well, so I?m just happy to contribute to the team?s success.?
The Blacktown resident and keen baseballer and touch footballer also has some advice for other aspiring youngsters trying to make it in football. ?Just train as hard as you can and take the opportunity when it comes along and try your best,? he said.
?Making the first grade team has been my greatest moment so far [outranking winning the U11 competition with Prospect] and I do have to thank my dad ? he does a lot for me and gets my head back up when I?ve made a mistake ? and Andrew and Jim Fraser international goalkeeping academy for teaching me everything I should know about goalkeeping. And I?m also really grateful for the opportunity the club [Luddenham] has given me.?
The unabashed Manchester United fan listed Socceroo evergreen Mark Schwarzer, Dutch custodian Edwin van der Sar and Italy shotstopper Gianluigi Buffon as his favourite keepers and said he would love to end up in any of the top leagues around the world, even in the A-League.
But for a few more years at least he will still have to wade through the well-intentioned jibes that Aussies are renowned for. ?There?s always a bit of a ribbing from the older players, like your mum called or have you got a jacket for when it gets cold and things like that,? Montgomery said, ?But the older boys around him are always there to help him and one of the best things about Riley is that he always asks questions, and that will keep making him a better player.?
-By Daniel De Nardi