’I was rubbish’: Transformation of once-maligned goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne

It’s not often you get footballers quoting Dolly Parton. But there’s something about the restyling of Andrew Redmayne that called for wise words from the queen of entertainment.

Andrew Redmayne has saved four penalties this season. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

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It’s not often you get footballers quoting Dolly Parton.

But there’s something about the restyling of Andrew Redmayne that called for wise words from the queen of entertainment.

And so, after pulling off his fourth penalty save of the season across all competitions, the Sydney FC goalkeeper blurted out: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose”.

“I heard it last week in a documentary,” Redmayne said.

The motivational nugget doesn’t exactly take the credit for Redmayne’s latest show-stopping performance – a top-draw leap to deny Riley McGree before then saving the Melbourne City forward’s late spot-kick to help seal a 2-0 win over his former club.

Andrew Redmayne has saved four penalties this season. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

That, he insists, was “just pot luck”.

What wasn’t is the path to rejuvenation he’s trodden since joining Sydney FC two years ago.

Out of form and low on confidence, the 30-year-old was much maligned by Western Sydney fans who were frustrated by his errors but lacked an eye for the raw qualities still obvious to John Crawley, his first goalkeeping coach at Central Coast with whom he reunited at the Sky Blues.

“Dolly Parton, the quote … Crawley’s told me who I am and what I need to do, and I’m just doing that with confidence,” Redmayne said.

“That’s something I’ve really relished this year.

“When I first came to Sydney, I know I shouldn’t say this, but I was rubbish.

“Trying to fit back into the mould Crawley was trying to shape me into. I was a long way behind.”

Redmayne says he was ‘rubbish’ when he arrived at Sydney FC. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)

Danny Vukovic was Sydney’s first choice then, and after each day’s main session focusing on the No.1, Crawley and Redmayne would stay back to work specifically on his game.

It all helped when, in June 2017, Vukovic moved to Belgium and Redmayne was thrust back between the posts.

But it’s this season the re-making has come full circle for the shot-stopper who once nearly signed for Arsenal as a teenager.

“A lot comes down to the environment you’re in,” Redmayne said.

“Working under John Crawley and all the staff at Sydney FC is phenomenal. It’s such a great environment to be in, it’s just one I’m really thriving in.

“We’ve just been working on things specific to me, that’s what’s so good about Crawley.

Redmayne has rejuvenated his career in recent seasons. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“It’s not just here’s a textbook we’ll work on that. It’s what are Redders’ strengths? What are Vuka’s strengths? What are Mat Ryan’s strengths? Let’s build a goalkeeper around that, let’s harness those talents and move forward.

“It’s not just every goalkeeper is black and white, there’s so many grey areas and colourful areas.

“Goalkeeping is so misunderstood at times, and Crawley seems to be able to understand it and harness the potential and raw ability goalkeepers do have.

“There’s been a hell of a lot of hard work, but that’s all credit to John. He’s just been immense.”

Adelaide keeper Paul Izzo saved four penalties last season. Picture: Sarah Reed

In terms of his penchant for penalties, Redmayne reckons he’s “just caught a bug”.

It’s a significant one too, with four from five attempts including one in the FFA Cup.

There aren’t all-time A-League statistics available on penalty saves over a single season, but Ante Covic (2012-13) and Paul Izzo (2017-18) have both made four in recent years.

While admitting it “pretty baffling”, Redmayne is so nonchalant he likened it to Australian Test captain Tim Paine finally winning a coin toss last week against Sri Lanka.

“He never won a toss then he tossed it left hand and won a toss – you just toss a coin and hope it comes the right way,” he said.

“I’ve come up trumps this year, so that’s it. It’s still mano a mano and 12 yards. The onus is on them to score it. You can take a bit of confidence from that I guess.

“You’re a sitting duck anyway so you may as well try and fly I guess, try and put them off a bit.”

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Originally published as ’I was rubbish’: Transformation of once-maligned goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne