By DAVID COULTER

Published at 09:04, Monday, 16 July 2012

ANOTHER professional goalkeeper born in Tynedale is on the move, as Prudhoe’s Ben Alnwick has been snapped up by Barnsley.

The former Prudhoe Youth Club FC player has become a Tyke after he was released by Premier League club Tottenham Hotspurs at the end of last season.

Again a lack of football opportunities in the league forced Alnwick (25) to seek pastures new and he is contracted at Championship side Barnsley for the next two years.

After making his mark from an early age with the youth club, he was signed at Sunderland as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks at the Wearside club.

Alnwick finally broke into the Sunderland first team in 2004 and played a late, pivotal role in helping them clinch the Championship title that season. He became a first team regular and was even given the number one shirt for the 2006-07 season but soon fell out of favour with manager Roy Keane.

A move to Premier League outfit Tottenham followed though but he only made one league appearance with the club – conceding four goals against Burnley.

His five-year spell at Spurs was littered with loan spells, starting with a temporary move to Luton Town in 2007 where he appeared four times.

Then followed brief stints with Leicester City and Carlisle United, before he headed south to Norwich City.

It was when appearing in a Carling Cup tie with old boys Sunderland when Alnwick got injured, paving the way for fellow Tynedale ‘keeper Fraser Forster to guide the team to the Championship.

After returning from the sidelines and appearing for Spurs first team, Alnwick had spells with Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers without appearing in their first teams, while he made eight appearances at Leyton Orient during 2011.

The Prudhoe goalkeeper, who has gained England caps throughout the U16 to U21 levels, is now hoping for a longer run in between the sticks with the Yorkshire club.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk