Dartford fan Custard aims to impress - EXCLUSIVE

Dartford supporter Steve “Custard” Hookins celebrates his 39^th birthday next Sunday - by competing against Kent’s best goalkeepers in Keeper Wars, writes Stephen McCartney.

Keeper Wars takes place on the community pitch at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium from 11am next Sunday, 24^th June - and Crayford resident Hookins is relishing the chance to impress.

“Since I got my call-up I’ve had about six and a half weeks to get fit,” Hookins said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“John McCrae and Craig Clark, the coaches, have very kindly allowed me to train with the other keepers on Wednesday’s and I’ve tried to do everything that they do.

“There was no way I could just turn up on the day and do this with no preparation as the other keepers probably wouldn’t take me seriously and without any training I’d be a danger to myself and the other keepers and it would be unfair to whoever I’m partnering not to give 100%.

“As a result, I’ve been doing weights, 20km bike rides on my exercise bike, sit-ups, jogging round Dartford Heath, ball handling skills and improving my footwork.”

Hookins, whose married to Helen, and has a daughter, Katie, aged 5, is putting himself through the pain barrier in order to raise much needed funds for the NSPCC.

He said: “I’m there to raise as much cash as I can. However, I’ve always been competitive, I love competing.

“I enjoy physical and mental challenges and this provides both.

“Also there is part of me that still won’t accept that I’m not 18 and still can’t do what I did twenty years ago.

“I don’t just want to be someone who donates all the time. I’ve sponsored people to run marathons and jump out of aircraft but I’ve wanted to raise money for a long time but needed a project that was different enough to catch people’s imagination and Keeper Wars has done just that.”

Hookins will be partnering James Tedder, the Dartford goalkeeper who was loaned out to their Kent League neighbours Slade Green last season, to enable the giant stopper to gain experience.

Hookins admitted that he will be feeling “nervous” during the event next Sunday.

“I just want to get out there and prove that I can compete and give a good account of myself,” he said.

“The keepers I’ve trained with could have treated me as a joke, but all of them I’ve spoken to and worked with have encouraged me and seen genuinely supportive of what I’m tying to achieve.

“Anyway, I’ll probably hang up my gloves after this, so it’s a nice way to finish.”

He added: “I want people to realise that although I’m prepared to wear a nasty keeper’s jersey and a bright pink t-shirt with Custard on the back, that when I’m between the sticks, I’ll be giving 100% and hope that I surprise a few people.

“I know I can’t win and usually I hate making up the numbers, but that won’t stop me from wanting to compete.

“James Tedder could probably stand a good chance of winning this if he was paired with an established keeper, but it’s an honour to play alongside him.”

“I hope that it’s a good day both weather and action wise and that as many people as possible come along and support us keepers.

“I’d also like to thank both John and Craig and all the other keepers at Dartford Football Club over the last few weeks for allowing me into their trust and helping get here.

“Also that people give generously on the day and donate what they can. No amount is too small, just fold it up and stick it in the tin - remember it’s for a good cause.”

Hookins started watching the Darts on the 7^th February 2004, when goals from Richard Avery and Tostao Kwashi secured a 2-0 win over Newport IOW at Stonebridge Road.

“I went along out of morbid curiosity and needing to kill an afternoon, and have been hooked ever since,” he recalled.

Since then, the club have moved to Princes Park, and are one of the favourites to land the Ryman League Division One South title next term.

Speaking about their new stadium, Hookins said: “It’s a stunning design although with all that wood I sometimes wonder if it could have been purchased in flat-pack form from Ikea.

“However, we are genuinely lucky to have not just the ground but the facilities that go with it.

“I think it’s a shame in some ways that it’s taken a small club the size of Dartford to be the one that leads the way, but on the other hand, the publicity has been great for the club and this is probably why people are queing up to play for us and teams like Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur want to come and play here.

“Mind you, the players really can’t have many excuses for not going into matches fully prepared now.

“I’ve spoken to one or two players and they’ve told me that they know this season they really have to deliver.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be attending Keeper Wars at Princes Park next Sunday.

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk  & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk