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Date: Mon 17 Oct 2022
By Steve Whitney
Barwell included a new goalkeeper and defender in their line-up that went down to a 5-2 home defeat to Mickleover in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central on Saturday.
Alfie Roberts and Rhys Brailsford joined the Canaries on `work experience` from League One side Derby County.
Goalkeeper Roberts joined Derby’s under-21 squad on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022.
He joined Derby’s academy back in 2015 after spending time in Nottingham Forest’s youth set-up and successfully came through the age groups prior to signing his scholarship.
He linked up with the under-18 squad in the lead-up to the 2020/21 campaign as a first-year scholar and became a regular by starting 17 times to help the Rams to a top-half finish in the Under-18 Premier League North.
He played 15 times for the under-18s in 2021/22 while he also sat on the bench as cover for the first team and under-21s, as well as taking in a brief loan spell at Northern Premier League Premier Division side Matlock Town.
Brailsford joined Derby’s under-18s as a first-year scholar ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Born and raised in Derby, Brailsford has been with the Rams since he was 8 years old. During that time, he has played in every outfield position across the pitch but is most comfortable in the right-back slot.
In his first season with the under-18s, Brailsford made 20 appearances -17 of which were starts – and scored in a 2-1 victory over Burnley and provided three assists which all came in wins.
The defender also wore the captain’s armband and his 22 league outings in Under-18 Premier League North during the 2021/22 campaign saw him catch the eye and make 4 league appearances with the under-21s in Premier League 2 Division 1.
Brailsford penned professional terms in the summer of 2022.
Meanwhile, Barwell have managed to extend the stay of young forward Jack Deakin from League Two side Mansfield Town.
Deakin, who has scored 3 goals in 4 games for the Canaries, will now remain with the Leicestershire outfit until December 31st.
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