Young goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge says he is privileged to be able to learn from such experienced goalkeepers as Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola.

West Ham have been incredibly lucky to have two brilliant keepers in Fabianski and Areola. The two have battled for the first choice spot over the past few seasons with the Frenchman now being the league keeper.

It is not just on the pitch that they make a massive difference, but off it too as their expertise make them perfect role models for the young keepers in West Ham’s set up:

This season in particular, youngster Jacob Knightbridge has found himself around the first team after some sensational performances for the U21s. The 19-year-old shot stopper is keen to learn of the two senior keepers and tries to take in as much as he can from them.

“Having two hugely experienced goalkeepers, keepers at the top of their games, we are really lucky to have that,” he told WHUFC.com. “It is about looking at how they train – their technique – how they carry themselves in the dressing room too. You can learn a lot from that.”

While he has not been in the squad yet, he has been in and around the team on match days and he pinpoints the win at Tottenham as the most memorable for him. “I haven’t been on the bench for the first team yet but as the third goalkeeper you still play a big role in the warm-up, helping the other goalkeepers get ready for the game. It was brilliant to be involved in the win over Tottenham Hotspur.”

“I think a 12-year-old me, a West Ham fan as well, would be pretty shocked to have been there,” the goalkeeper gleamed. “Sometimes you maybe have to remember not to take it for granted. You have to take yourself out of that bubble and think that two or three years ago you would be shocked if you were there [as part of the first team squad].”

“Of course, it makes you want more of that because I’d love to play for West Ham one day – that’s the main goal of mine. I grew up in Brentwood, Essex, and West Ham is massive around there”

“Being around the Club since the age of seven, it’s always been my goal to play for West Ham. Like Łukasz and Alphonse, I want to have a long career in football and have the best job in the world. To play senior football, whatever level that might be, would be brilliant. Hopefully, I can make that happen here!”

There is always something special about seeing one of your own playing for the club you support and someone like Jacob has the attitude to make his dreams happen. It will take a lot of hard work but he has two of the best tutors you’d be able to find to help him reach his potential.