By James Williamson

A YOUNG Carnoustie goalkeeper has written his name in the record books—at the other end of the pitch—following a double goal salvo at the weekend.

Sean Fitzgerald (11) was as surprised as anyone to see an upfield punt bounce twice and then nestle in the opposition’s net.

But he went on to repeat the feat later in the game, prompting the Scottish Youth Football Association’s statisticians to start checking their record books.

Sean, who plays for Carnoustie Panmure Boys’ Club Under-12s and is part of Aberdeen FC’s Youth Development Academy, was keeping goal in a friendly fixture against Broughty United last Sunday when he bagged what is thought to have been a unique double.

The 11-a-side game was being played on a full-sized pitch at Broughty Esplanade.

In a post-match interview Sean said, “I gathered the ball in my hands and my dad was shouting to use the wind to get it up to the forwards, so I kicked it as far as I could.

“But it took a great bounce over the strikers and then another bounce and went in the goal.

“I couldn’t believe it. All the forwards ran all the way back to me cheering.

“I tried it again later and the same thing happened! I stop quite a lot of goals but I don’t often score them.”

Scottish Youth Football Association national secretary David Little said he couldn’t think of another instance of a goalie scoring twice in a game—in youth, junior or senior football.

“It’s completely out of the blue. Normally the only time a keeper scores a goal is when they take a penalty kick or come up for a corner in the last minute.

“But for a goalie to score two in a game is unheard of in my 30 years in the Scottish game.”

An Aberdeen FC spokes- man said, “I’m sure Jim Leighton, our goalkeeping coach, will be keeping an eye on Sean after that.

“I can remember Mark de Clerk, our former Belgian keeper, famously scoring for us in his first game against Berwick Rangers.

“But given the rarity of a goalkeeper scoring even once in the game, this is a great achievement—well done Sean!”

Sean’s dad, Carnoustie Panmure coach Mike Fitzgerald, admitted his son’s strikes had been “wind-assisted” but said he was speechless.

“I’d never seen anything like it,” he said, “and then 20 minutes later he did it again. Of course, after that he was looking for his hat-trick!”

Under SYFA rules, under-12s play 11-a-side friendly fixtures but no results are published—to ensure that children learn to enjoy the game rather than becoming too competitive too early.