The frustrating life of a back-up keeper
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It is probably the best and worst position in football as goalkeepers either have the luxury of longevity or they are cursed with forever waiting for a chance that rarely ever comes around.
By now, it has become so familiar that the original sense of déjà vu has long since been replaced by a feeling of helplessness and jaded frustration.
The training sessions still carry that competitive edge as you are involved in the action. But when it comes to matchdays, there is no escaping the disappointment that arrives like a train at exactly the right time every week.
Of course, there is always the slight chance that something may happen in the warm-up and you are called on to step into the void. Or the manager opts to shake things up with his team selection. Although both of those things hardly ever happen.
Instead, you try to keep your mind from wandering whilst sitting on the bench alongside outfield players who have a genuine chance of featuring in the game. There is little you can do, but hope that next week might be different even though you know deep down that it probably won’t be.
Welcome to the life of a back-up keeper…..a footballing purgatory that offers no glimmer of light to those desperate to feel the adrenaline rush that comes with playing in high-profile games.
Chris Konopka is currently stuck in that position. The Waterford United keeper has not played for the first-team since June 5th, which makes it 15 weeks of total frustration.
The giant shot-stopper has every reason to curse his luck (or lack of it) because he was a regular starter for the Blues until that Friday evening in Flancare Park when he lasted just nine minutes following a harsh sending off.
It was too early for anything of note to happen in the FAI Ford Cup tie, or so the New Jersey native thought as Longford midfielder Mark Salmon broke free and stormed towards his goal. Instinct took over as Konopka slid out to deny the opposing player, who tumbled over his large frame.
There was no need to call in the video analysts, it was a penalty. Although referee Paul Tuite was quite happy to allow the keeper make up for his error before one of the linesman recommended that a red card should be flashed. As he trotted off the pitch in disbelief, Konopka was unaware that it would be his last competitive game for some time.
“It all happened so quickly. From colliding with the guy on their team, to the penalty being awarded and then the linesman calling the referee over,” Konopka told Insider’s View.
“Nine minutes and I was gone. What was even more disappointing was that we were rarely under pressure after that and had a penalty of our own, but it was that one goal that knocked us out of the cup.
“I obviously had to serve a suspension from it and that allowed Kevin Burns, who is a good young keeper, to come in. Unfortunately for me, he has held on to the starting spot ever since.”
Konopka is trying to stay upbeat. He has to because if he stops believing that he can claim his place back then it becomes a trap that tightens the longer he stays in it.
Having won FAI Cup winner’s medals as a back-up keeper at both Bohemians and Sporting Fingal, he moved to Waterford this season in search of first-team football and a way out of the frustrating life as the loneliest substitute in the game.
That opportunity fell his way as he started almost every game for Stephen Henderson’s side up to that night in Longford. But he is now back on the sidelines trudging through the mundane routine of preparing for matches that he is highly unlikely to feature in.
There isn’t long left in the season now. That means a few different things as he is running out of games to play in, a chance to get away from this world for a brief period, at least, is almost here and there is the possibility of starting over somewhere else if it doesn’t work out.
Konopka knows that those three alternatives will mean nothing unless he keeps his spirits high as that is the only fuel a back-up keeper can truly rely on to blast them back into contention.
By now, it has become so familiar that the original sense of déjà vu has long since been replaced by a feeling of helplessness and jaded frustration.
The training sessions still carry that competitive edge as you are involved in the action. But when it comes to matchdays, there is no escaping the disappointment that arrives like a train at exactly the right time every week.
Of course, there is always the slight chance that something may happen in the warm-up and you are called on to step into the void. Or the manager opts to shake things up with his team selection. Although both of those things hardly ever happen.
Instead, you try to keep your mind from wandering whilst sitting on the bench alongside outfield players who have a genuine chance of featuring in the game. There is little you can do, but hope that next week might be different even though you know deep down that it probably won’t be.
Welcome to the life of a back-up keeper…..a footballing purgatory that offers no glimmer of light to those desperate to feel the adrenaline rush that comes with playing in high-profile games.
Chris Konopka is currently stuck in that position. The Waterford United keeper has not played for the first-team since June 5th, which makes it 15 weeks of total frustration.
The giant shot-stopper has every reason to curse his luck (or lack of it) because he was a regular starter for the Blues until that Friday evening in Flancare Park when he lasted just nine minutes following a harsh sending off.
It was too early for anything of note to happen in the FAI Ford Cup tie, or so the New Jersey native thought as Longford midfielder Mark Salmon broke free and stormed towards his goal. Instinct took over as Konopka slid out to deny the opposing player, who tumbled over his large frame.
There was no need to call in the video analysts, it was a penalty. Although referee Paul Tuite was quite happy to allow the keeper make up for his error before one of the linesman recommended that a red card should be flashed. As he trotted off the pitch in disbelief, Konopka was unaware that it would be his last competitive game for some time.
“It all happened so quickly. From colliding with the guy on their team, to the penalty being awarded and then the linesman calling the referee over,” Konopka told Insider’s View.
“Nine minutes and I was gone. What was even more disappointing was that we were rarely under pressure after that and had a penalty of our own, but it was that one goal that knocked us out of the cup.
“I obviously had to serve a suspension from it and that allowed Kevin Burns, who is a good young keeper, to come in. Unfortunately for me, he has held on to the starting spot ever since.”
Konopka is trying to stay upbeat. He has to because if he stops believing that he can claim his place back then it becomes a trap that tightens the longer he stays in it.
Having won FAI Cup winner’s medals as a back-up keeper at both Bohemians and Sporting Fingal, he moved to Waterford this season in search of first-team football and a way out of the frustrating life as the loneliest substitute in the game.
That opportunity fell his way as he started almost every game for Stephen Henderson’s side up to that night in Longford. But he is now back on the sidelines trudging through the mundane routine of preparing for matches that he is highly unlikely to feature in.
There isn’t long left in the season now. That means a few different things as he is running out of games to play in, a chance to get away from this world for a brief period, at least, is almost here and there is the possibility of starting over somewhere else if it doesn’t work out.
Konopka knows that those three alternatives will mean nothing unless he keeps his spirits high as that is the only fuel a back-up keeper can truly rely on to blast them back into contention.
About Gareth Maher
Gareth Maher is an award-winning journalist who has covered domestic, international and women's football for the best part of a decade. Previously a columnist for the Irish Daily Mail and Football Editor for Setanta Sports, … View Full Profile