Turville aims to make most of surprise chance

ROB TURVILLE has been named as Guernsey's goalkeeper for their fourth-round HA Trophy tie with cup-holders Banbury, after having taken up the position only two years ago. The 37-year-old began keeping for Specsavers in the Business House League midway through the 2005-06 season.

He now regularly attends island training and, with Guernsey number one Andy Good unable to travel to Oxfordshire for their crucial national cup tie on Sunday, Jason Robilliard having retired from the set up and Kees Jager making himself unavailable, Turville has earned himself a remarkable call-up.

'I never thought it - not a chance,' he said.

'I've worked hard and gone to training. I'm looking forward to it and I'm old enough now that I'm not going to get nervous about it.

'I'm also realistic to know that I'm not going to be playing in 10 years' time, so I'm enjoying it.'

Turville has represented the island in a senior cricket inter-insular and has played for Guernsey at football up to under-23 level.

He also has junior island hockey caps from the days when he was a right back before he gave up the sport to concentrate on football.

He returned to hockey a couple of seasons ago and decided to have a go in goal.

'I wanted to get back into the sport but I was too fat and unfit to run around the outfield,' he said.

'I've got the bug for keeping now. I don't mind getting hit.'

Turville is signed to Investec Second Division outfit Senior Vets but has turned out for Cenkos Yobbos and Investec Colombians in the First Division.

He has also featured for a number of other division two teams and Business League sides.

He has played a staggering 56 matches so far this season.

'I'm something of a hockey goalkeeping mercenary,' he said.

'I love it and I'll turn out for anybody. But it's given me experience.

'I've probably had in the last two seasons five or six seasons-worth of matches.'

Turville has also had some experience of playing at island level.

He understudied for Good in a pre-season four-islands tournament in the Isle of Man.

Guernsey coach Nick Mahy says he has no worries in picking Turville.

'He's been training well and you pick the best from what's available and he's that,' he said.

'He went to the Isle of Man and he played very well. He'll be fine.'

The Investec-sponsored island team started as one of 128 sides in the national competition.

They went on to defeat Plymouth University, Eastcote and Gore Court to book themselves into the 16.

Apart from Elizabeth College PE teacher Good going away on a school trip, Mahy has a full squad to pick from for Sunday's match.

However, defender Tony Veillard and his Yobbos team mate Simon Beck are to undergo a late fitness test this week as both are struggling with hamstring problems.

Mahy knows that his team have a game on their hands when they face Banbury.

The Oxfordshire side are currently top of South League Premier Division Two and seemingly scoring goals at will with 57 in 13 matches.

Besides winning last year's HA Trophy, they made the finals the season before.

'It will be difficult but there you go,' said Mahy.

'Skill for skill we'll be equal to them but it's all about link-up play. They are playing as a team week in, week out whereas we're not. That's the key. But if we put a good performance in, we'll have a chance.'