Cardiff City teenager Warren Burwood has charged to the rescue for BetVictor Southern League Merthyr Town.
The 19-year-old, originally from Gorleston in Norfolk, signed for the Martyrs on loan after the club’s only senior goalkeeper, Alex Harris, was sent off and is facing suspension.
Burwood committed to Southern Premier club Merthyr on a 28-day emergency loan, although league officials have called off fixtures until Saturday, March 21 at least.
Norwich City were the first professional club for Burwood, who joined the Canaries’ academy at the age of eight.
He moved to the Bluebirds four years ago and has had a loan spell at Hereford.
A statement by Merthyr Town FC said: “Everybody at the club wishes Warren all the best in his short spell at MetCoaches Stadium.
“Manager Gavin Williams would also like to thank Cardiff City for their co-operation regarding the transfer.”
Former Cardiff player Andy Dibble is the club’s goalkeeping coach, while Darran Lovell is City’s lead Academy goalie.
Lovell rates Burwood, who was offered a professional contract after completing his two-year apprenticeship, highly and says: “Warren getting his pro contract was massive.
“He did really well to earn a pro contract, and it’s always pleasing to see the progress of goalkeepers who you are working with on a daily basis.”
Lovell spent 10 years working at the Norwich City Academy before having a spell with the Bahrain national team. He has been Cardiff Academy goalkeeping coach for eight years.
Merthyr have re-arranged league fixtures against Dorchester Town and Weston-super-Mare.
Tuesday, March 24 – Weston-Super-Mare (A) – 7:45pm
Tuesday, April 7 – Dorchester Town (H) – 7:45pm
Merthyr Town remaining fixtures
March
Saturday 14 Taunton v Merthyr Town, postponed
Saturday 21 Merthyr Town v Truro City, postponed
Tuesday 24 Weston-super-Mare v Merthyr Town
Saturday 28 Hayes and Yeading v Merthyr Town
Tuesday 31 Truro City v Merthyr Town
April
Saturday 4 Merthyr Town v Poole Town
Tuesday 7 Merthyr Town v Dorchester Town
Saturday 11 Merthyr Town v Tiverton Town
Monday 13 Yate Town v Merthyr Town
Saturday 18 Hartley Wintney v Merthyr Town
Saturday 25 Merthyr Town v Hendon
https://twitter.com/MerthyrTownFC/status/1238410108390031361?s=20
Cardiff City goalkeepers:
First team: Alex Smithies, Neil Etheridge
Under-23:
George Ratcliffe
A 19-year-old who has been on loan at Welsh Premier League Barry Town United since June.
“I’m loving it with Barry,” says Wales under-21 international Ratcliffe. “As soon as I was offered my pro contract with Cardiff, I knew that I wanted to go out on loan and play first-team football.
“The difference between under-23 side and playing first team football at Barry is massive. Technically, it is probably quite similar, but the physical side of the game is extremely important.
“The fans at Barry are amazing. They’re the best fans in the league without a doubt.”
Commanding, reliable and composed, Ratcliffe showed his mental resilience when overcoming a broken leg at the age of 15.
Ratcliffe, from Newport, was named Cardiff City’s 2018-19 Academy player of the season
A former pupil at St Julian’s High School in Newport who was selected for Cardiff’s first team pre-season tour to America
Matt Hall
Spent 11 years at West Brom after signing at the age of seven. West Midlands-born Hall joined Bangor City 19-years-old and kept an impressive 10 clean sheets in 27 outings for the then Welsh Premier League outfit.
Cardiff signed Hall on a two-year contract in July 2018. English-born ‘keeper who is now aged 22.
Under-18
Nativ Yanko
A 17-year-old English-born former Fulham Academy goalkeeper.
Bradley Stewart
Joined Cardiff from AFC Bournemouth and one of three ‘keepers in their under-18 squad.
Jaimie Cogman
Australian-born goalkeeper who played for Brisbane Roar and Brisbane City before coming to South Wales.
Cogman has played consistently for City’s under-18 team.
