Neil Cutler hoping to catch next star

Now a key member of Walsall's backroom staff, the 38-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeeping coaches in the game.

But it's not just professional keepers Cutler wants to improve, with his just4keepers goalkeeping academies launched to help all young glovesmen across the Midlands.

"Working with and improving young goalkeepers is something I really enjoy," said Wolverhampton-born Cutler.

"Ever since we launched just4keepers it's gone from strength to strength and we now have seven academies that meet up across the West Midlands with a new one just starting in Cannock.

"It's my way of passing on my experience and knowledge of the game to young keepers and I try and make each session as fun as possible.

"But it also has that professional element to it. At Walsall I'm charged with making sure we continue to produce good young goalkeepers and having these academies helps.

"It's a great chance for me to see all talented, local young goalkeepers.

"I can coach them and I can see the standard. It works for all of us really."

Cutler, who started the coaching sessions in 2009, is always happy to hear from new aspiring keepers who want to join his ranks.

And he is also keen to expand by encouraging girls to attend, with the shot-stopper hoping to run a class at Wolverhampton College where he will be assisted by female coaches from Walsall and Albion.

"We've seen with how well England did at the Women's World Cup that the ladies game is getting bigger and bigger all the time," he said.

"Sadly though, I don't seem to have any girls keen on goalkeeping coaching yet.

"The boys have really bought into the in-depth, technical training sessions and I'd like to do the same for girls.

"It's important we give all young goalkeepers the building blocks that will allow them to be the best they can be, whether they are male or female.

"We've had a number of boys who have come to us and gone on to bigger and better things. If I can get some feedback that there's a group of girls out there interested in being coached then I will really push it.

"I'll have the ladies coaches from Walsall and Albion there to make sure we get that female perspective but I think it could be something that is really successful."

Alongside the goalkeeping training, another branch of just4keepers sees Cutler helping aspiring young coaches who are keen to go on and work in the professional game.

"When just4keepers started it was to develop young keepers but now I have opened that up to help young coaches as well," he said.

"Young coaches can come in, watch how I coach and then every week I e-mail them a list of session topics. They can then help work on the session for the following week.

"It's going really well, we've had one coach go on to join Walsall and one join Shrewsbury.

"Ideally it's aimed at youngsters aged 18 or over. Maybe teenagers who have come out of football, not quite made the grade but are looking for an alternative career.

"There is no reason why people who are committed can't go on to become top coaches. If they come along to these sessions we will help people with their coaching badges.

"I don't charge anything for it, coaches can come in, look at the philosophy of how I like to train keepers and then they can add their own ideas."