Focused Rachubka keeps on his toes

Reporter: by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 08 August 2014


PAUL Rachubka is anything but comfortable in his role as Athletic’s number one goalkeeper.

The 33-year-old was one of the unexpected stars of last season, thrust into the first-team spotlight after a solid six months spent warming the bench and keeping five clean sheets in 10 games as Athletic glided into a 15th-place finish.

His form was enough to persuade manager Lee Johnson to offer him a new deal which — once eventually signed — has seen the well-travelled former Huddersfield and Blackpool player take on the mantle as the club’s number one ’keeper from the start of the coming season.

Rachubka is too long in the tooth to relax, though.

Even though Athletic have only one other professional shot-stopper on their books in Joel Coleman, California-born Rachubka (pictured, right) sees potential competitors everywhere.

“We are all battling for our places and are in competition with each other, whether it is here in our faces at the club or in terms of people who could be brought in to take our spots,” he said. “I don’t think anybody really wants it any other way, either.

“Nothing is set in stone in this game and it can all change quickly, so I am just doing the best that I can.

“Everyone has the same mentality and we all drive each other on.”

One man doing more than any other currently to keep Rachubka on his toes is the club’s combined fitness and goalkeeping coach, Anthony White.

It may be unusual to have a coach, aged 22, teaching new tricks to a pupil who is 11 years his senior.

But Rachubka relishes the fresh techniques which have been introduced to his training routines.

“Ant is fully qualified and brings a lot to it,” Rachubka said. “If he didn’t, then he wouldn’t be here. I have enjoyed working with him.

“I feel that even at 33, I still have an awful lot to learn. The day I stop learning will be the day I hang up my boots.

“There are lot of new things involved — theories and science. It is modern-day football and it is also good fun.

“For example, camera phones are great for watching training back and it is something I think we will be using a lot more of. The video doesn’t lie, so you go from there to analyse and move on together.”

Rachubka has experience of well over a decade of pre-seasons as a player.

But there is no doubting his sincerity when he states his belief in a feel-good factor surrounding SportsDirect.com Park.

“We are creating something here that is really positive and there is a good buzz about the place, from the goalkeeping coach through to the manager,” he added.

“Hopefully, that will show through at the start of the season.”