Farsley Celtic Deaf goalkeeper Charlie Parker-Fairbairn will begin training with the first team squad next week, it’s been announced today.
Parker-Fairbairn has been with the deaf team for the past two seasons, and is in the England Development Squad.
While much of the Farsley Celtic Deaf squad are taking a break after appearing in the deaf Champions’ League in Poland this summer, Parker-Fairbairn has asked to come straight back into training with the first team to help him push on to the next level.
He will come in and train with first team goalkeeping coach Jake Lofthouse and assistant head coach Tom Morgan, who will mentor Charlie and guide him through his own tailored development program.
Director of Football, Pav Singh, said: “Charlie, as many of the deaf squad are, is a very talented player, and we will look to help develop and push him to fulfil his potential and see where that can take him.
“From the games I have watched him in, I believe he has a strong base skill set that we can help develop enabling him to become a better player.”
Paul Young, Head Of Deaf Football, commented: “Charlie has played for Farsley Celtic Deaf FC team for two seasons, after by chance meeting with players in a pub and has proved to be an exceptional goalkeeper for us.
“Overcoming communication challenges with players who sign, his personality and strong work ethic have shone throughout his rapid progression in his goalkeeping skills and distribution.
“His reward was a recent call-up to England Deaf Development Squad where he kept a clean sheet on his debut against Scotland Deaf.
“We are very pleased that Charlie has been invited to train with the FC’s 1st team to help him realise his full potential. We look forward to other members of our squad following him.”
Farsley Celtic Chairman Paul Barthorpe said: “With the change in the footballing structure at the club, we are looking to create clear pathways from all divisions within the club to create first team opportunities and exposure.
“We are blessed with a very talented and successful deaf squad, and we will look over the forthcoming weeks to integrate these guys as much as possible into our first team squad with the goal of progressing these players and provide opportunities that are not available anywhere else.
“Having got to know many of the guys better personally over recent times, I am excited to see them pushing on and developing further as players. They have a winning mentality and have demonstrated this in a Farsley shirt time and time again.
“Charlie will be the first of many from the deaf section and from my brief conversations with him he comes across as a really nice guy and will fit in well with the rest of our first team.”
Parker-Fairbairn will also be joined in this first team goalkeeping union by Liam Bennett, from the club’s Emerging Talent Squad.
Farsley Celtic first team have already brought in 11 new players this summer, rationing just five of last season’s squad. Following the departure of manager Russ Wilcox the club has also brought in a new management and coaching team.
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