Kettings to Woodley Sports on loan

Young goalkeeper Chris Kettings has moved to non-league Woodley Sports on loan.

The 19-year-old, who signed his first professional contract with Blackpool back in June, will go straight into the Woodley side at Salford City this afternoon.

Woodley Sports are currently in the playoffs of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier – a division occupied by the likes of Lancaster City, AFC Fylde and Bamber Bridge.

Despite almost leaving the club at the end of last season, Kettings is buoyant about his future:

‘It’s unbelievable how much they can help you because of their experience and they’ve brought me on a tremendous amount I believe,’ he said.

‘Last year was a big help for me, I was training alongside the likes of Matt Gilks, Paul Rachubka and Richard Kingson, players who have a lot of experience at club and international level.

‘And I look at somebody like Mark Halstead, who has been on the same path as me and he came off the bench against Chelsea last season – so it does give you hope that you can get a chance in the first-team as well.’

Woodley Sports manager Matt Broadhead commented: ‘I remember Chris playing for the Greater Manchester side a few years back, he was absolutely first class – a real top notch ‘keeper.

‘To say I’m delighted we have been able to bring him in at Woodley is an understatement. It shows exactly how far forward this club has come in a short space of time, that we have the back room staff and the board who can make signings like this happen.’

It isn’t clear how long the loan move is for and Kettings follows Mark Halstead into the non-league circuit.