Pitchero Non League

...League Premier Division club Willand Rovers’ next long-term number one.

Cann, 46, was due to be rested in favour of Lee in Rovers’ clash with npower League Two side Torquay United last Wednesday in the Devon St Luke’s Bowl second round, only for the match to be postponed. Lee earned rave reviews after his debut for the Silver Street side as a 16-year-old back in August, saving a penalty and producing a couple of outstanding stops in Rovers’ 2-0 win at Bishop Sutton.

And while Cann believes the youngster needs more experience before claiming the No. 1 jersey for himself, he does think Lee will be a valuable asset for the club in the years to come.

“We have young Zac at the club and he looks like a keeper, is built like a keeper and acts like a keeper – everything except for not tucking his shirt in,” joked Cann.

“He is a great player for the future, but I will say that I am not sure he is ready for Western League football yet because he has only played youth football before, but he is a great prospect.

“He has played a couple of games and looked very good so I have no doubt he'll turn out to be a very good keeper.”

Next up for the Silver Street side is the visit of strugglers Bridport on January 2nd.

By that time, Willand’s lead at the top of the table could have been cut significantly as they do not have the busy Christmas schedule compared to some other teams in the division.

Cann, who is expected to play in the Bridport match, joined Willand FIFTEEN years ago, and has won the Devon League twice during his time at Silver Street, as well as a Western League First Division winners’ medal.

And despite racking up over 500 appearances for Willand over that time, Cann insists he wants to keep contributing to the Willand cause beyond the end of the current campaign.

“I feel as fit as I have done for many, many years. In Ben Mammola and Simon Hill I have two central defenders that no goalkeeper in the world would mind playing behind,” he said.

“I would love to carry on playing until I’m 50 but you can’t see that happening in today’s game so we’ll wait and see what happens.

“The trouble is that I eat, sleep and breathe Willand Rovers and I have played in goal for them for so long I would find it very hard to see anybody else in there.

“If manager Clive Jones shook me by the hand and told me I wasn’t needed any more I’d say ‘thanks for everything’ and I’m sure he would do, too.”

Tags: News | Willand Rovers

• The Toolstation Western Football League
• Premier Division
  • + Wells Appoint Johnston
• Division 1
  • + New Ground Imperative for Chard
• Premier Division
  • + Thomson Becomes First New Lark
  • + Chairman Questions League`s Decision
  • + Darch Makes Ilfracombe Switch
• Division 1
  • + Ambition Tempted Jones Back
• Premier Division
  • + Shephard Brings in Colborne
• Division 1
  • + Chard Get Lit Up
  • + Devizes Return for Love
• Premier Division
  • + New-Style Willand Rovers in 2012/13
  • + Senior Interest in Pair
  • + Rovers Hemorrhaging Players to Taunton
• Division 1
  • + Merrick Strengthens Wellington
• Premier Division
  • + Foster Has High Aspirations
• • + Barum`s Second New Boss Urges Support
• Division 1
  • + Surprise As Buckingham Returns to Elmore
• Premier Division
  • + New-Look Barum
  • + Burns Brings in Two for Downers
  • + Barnstaple Boss Quits
• Division 1
  • + Winterbourne Head Into the Unknown