Interviews

Boaz Myhill Interview

Name: Boaz Myhill
Age: 29
Nationality: Welsh

How old were you when you first started playing football and did you always want to be a goalkeeper?
I was 11. I played with my friends on Sundays for a local team, Oswestry Boys Club. I always intended to be a goalkeeper.

Where and when did you get your big break?
I was playing for my district and I got asked to go for a trial aged 12 with Aston Villa before I progressed through to have an apprenticeship.

Did you face any obstacles along the way, ever think it wasn’t going to happen and if so how did you get past them?
Numerous injuries but I just kept going. It’s very hard as a young player but you just have to keep believing in yourself.

Who was your biggest influence growing up?
All the senior goalkeepers at Villa while I was there. So David James, Mark Bosnich and Peter Schmeichel.

How do you prepare for a big game? Any tips on warm-ups?
Good rest, sleep well and have good food. Make sure you train well during the week and drink lots of water. I try to prepare in the same manner for every game.

Are you superstitious or do you have any pre-game rituals?
I kick both posts and touch the bar three times before the beginning of both halves.

What techniques do you employ to keep focused for the full 90 minutes?
I take the game five minutes at a time.

What goalkeeper gloves do you wear and how important is the right goalkeeper glove to you?
I wear Uhlsport Cerberus roll finger. The right goalkeeper gloves are crucial so you feel confident.

What are the main features you look for in a goalkeeper glove?
Roll fingers, aqua soft palm. I prefer light goalkeeper gloves, plain but mainly white.

Since you’ve started playing what is the most important bit of advice you’ve been given and by whom?
Try to enjoy the game and smile from Mark Prudhoe, goalkeeping coach at Hull City.

What’s been your biggest career highlight(s) so far?
The play-off final at Wembley was a great day and the party afterwards was good too.

Who is/has been your toughest opponent and do you prepare differently to face them? (Team and player)
Cristiano Ronaldo when he was at Manchester United. You tend to prepare in a similar way for most games but I was nervous about facing him and his free-kicks.

Any advice you could give to young Goalkeepers trying to break through?
Just to enjoy themselves. Try to apply your natural style and adapt to different challenges.

Special Thanks to the guys at Birmingham City – www.BCFC.com

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Daz @ KeeperPortal

Owner and creator of Keeper Portal, an FA qualified goalkeeping coach as well as being pretty impressive at keeping balls out of a net.

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3 Comments

  1. I am a young up and coming keeper and I thought this was a great interview. There were a lot of useful tips that I’m going to try. Especially the five minutes at a time

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