Puma creates special goalkeeper gloves for disabled boy

Quality from Puma. Kid's a top red too.


A young footballer with only two fingers and one thumb on each hand can now realise his dream of playing in goal after sportswear giant Puma designed a special set of gloves for him.

Joseph Pritchard, eight, from Churchdown, in Gloucestershire, was born with the disability and also had to have part of his left leg amputated.

He now has an artificial leg and despite his disabilities, he plays football for the Churchdown Panthers and loves playing in goal.

But until now, being a goalkeeper was a dream because he cannot wear regular goalkeeper's gloves because they are too big and fall off.

Now Puma designers created a special pair of gloves for him and have given him a new set of football boots to go with them.

Joseph's father Darren and stepmother Helen emailed several major sports companies to see if anyone could help and were overjoyed when Puma got in touch to say it would love to help.

Joseph, a Manchester United fan who loves Wayne Rooney, told the Gloucester Citizen: "I am really excited and very grateful. It will make playing football easier."

The gloves will now be specially fitted to Joseph's specifications.

Mr Pritchard, 36, said the gloves will help Joseph gain confidence on the pitch and improve his game by giving him a better feel for the ball.

"With the new gloves Joseph won't feel different, he'll be able to fit in," he said.

"He is a very brave little boy - he copes with everything. We don't allow him to be different and he doesn't allow it either."

A spokesman for Puma said: "When we heard about Joseph's love of football we knew we had to help in whatever way we could.

"By making him a pair of bespoke goalkeeper gloves we hope he can enjoy his football even more - after all, that's what this game is really all about."

you love your goalie stuff dont you mate!
any pictures?

Load of %@#$&!s!


Ask Stepney if you need gloves to play in net:shakehead:


Look at Cech or even Edwin, spend longer punching the £#%&!ing thing than actually catching it


That is why Friedel and then Jaaaskerliiiiiineeen are the best in the league, proper keepers who do what is needed at the right time! If it needs catchin (which is 90% of the time) then they do

I thought it was one of grimsons stories and was about to trail off into something else but it seems like its genuine.

Originally Posted by les vagas

you love your goalie stuff dont you mate!
any pictures?

No pictures yet, they're being sent to me though.

Originally Posted by Sloppy

I thought it was one of grimsons stories and was about to trail off into something else but it seems like its genuine.

Yep this one is real.

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

Load of %@#$&!s!


Ask Stepney if you need gloves to play in net:shakehead:

Did he have only two fingers on each hand?:shakehead:

Originally Posted by les vagas

you love your goalie stuff dont you mate!
any pictures?

Pictures here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...al-gloves.html

Brave lad-good on him.

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

Load of %@#$&!s!


Ask Stepney if you need gloves to play in net:shakehead:


Look at Cech or even Edwin, spend longer punching the £#%&!ing thing than actually catching it


That is why Friedel and then Jaaaskerliiiiiineeen are the best in the league, proper keepers who do what is needed at the right time! If it needs catchin (which is 90% of the time) then they do

Oh, spot on. That's why Friedel and Jaaskelainen have both got those massive honours lists and Cech and VDS have won £#%&! all.

one thumb on each hand

poor sod

Originally Posted by Grimson

£#%&!'s sake, the kid is 8 years old. I can only hope you're trying to be funny. :shakehead:

Yes I was, possibly (actually VERY) poor taste! But that is the way I deal with stuff like this

God bless the lad, but if i didnt laugh i'd cry! Sorry if you thought I was being a tit

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

Yes I was, possibly (actually VERY) poor taste! But that is the way I deal with stuff like this

God bless the lad, but if i didnt laugh i'd cry! Sorry if you thought I was being a tit

Nah I knew you were a good sort.

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

That is why Friedel and then Jaaaskerliiiiiineeen

Given the length of time they've spent at Backburn & Bolton, have they had to have specially made gloves, or is that only if you're born into the 'family'?

Originally Posted by Ether

Oh, spot on. That's why Friedel and Jaaskelainen have both got those massive honours lists and Cech and VDS have won £#%&! all.

I think you will find that VDS and Cech have won trophys due to what is infront of them!


Put Friedel or Jaaskelainen in one of the top 4 and then compare....

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

I think you will find that VDS and Cech have won trophys due to what is infront of them!


Put Friedel or Jaaskelainen in one of the top 4 and then compare....

Friedel used to play for a top 4 side.

Originally Posted by Ether

Oh, spot on. That's why Friedel and Jaaskelainen have both got those massive honours lists and Cech and VDS have won £#%&! all.

and gloves

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

I think you will find that VDS and Cech have won trophys due to what is infront of them!


Put Friedel or Jaaskelainen in one of the top 4 and then compare....

That's funny, because I'm sure I can remember VDS playing a rather large part in Moscow

You don't win league titles and European Cups without having a very good keeper.


And there's a reason Friedel and Jaaskelainen don't currently play for top 4 sides.

Originally Posted by Mao's Favourite Starling

Put Friedel or Jaaskelainen in one of the top 4 and then compare....

hang on a minute

Friedel is decent but Jasskelianen is £#%&!ing £#%&!. he isn;t in a top 4 team because he isn't good enough

i thought the story was very touching and the little lad sounds like a brave fella

nice one, Puma and good luck lad

that's always the way, isn't it? put the fat kid or the one with deformed hands and a missing leg in goal.

shame.

seriously though, are the gloves going to have false fingers so the other team doesn't know they're up against a half boy/half tyrannosaurus rex?