Goalkeeper sent off after 11 SECONDS

A goalkeeper has entered the record books after being sent off '“ after just 11 SECONDS.
Nicky Seekings (back row, third from right) who was sent off after 11 seconds as a makeshift goalkeeper when their normal keeper Joe Griffiths (back row centre) was unavailable due to a fashion shoot as he is a male modelNicky Seekings (back row, third from right) who was sent off after 11 seconds as a makeshift goalkeeper when their normal keeper Joe Griffiths (back row centre) was unavailable due to a fashion shoot as he is a male model
Nicky Seekings (back row, third from right) who was sent off after 11 seconds as a makeshift goalkeeper when their normal keeper Joe Griffiths (back row centre) was unavailable due to a fashion shoot as he is a male model

Hapless Nicky Seekings, 32, brought down former PNE striker Lee Ashcroft in the penalty box and received his marching orders seconds after kick off in the Lancashire Sunday League Premier Division clash between Ingol Rangers and Ashton Villa on Thursday evening.

Seekings, who is normally a striker, was only in goal because Ashton Villa’s normal No.1 Joe Griffiths, a male model, was away on a shoot.

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It is believed to be one of the fastest red cards in English football history - with Nicky not even touching the ball before he was sent for an early bath.

Nicky, 32, from Lostock Hall, said: “I’m normally a striker but when I turned up they asked me to go in nets.

“It was a massive game, maybe a title decider. If we won then we wouldn’t be far behind them with a few games to play. Our normal goalkeeper Joe is really good but had to miss the game because he was modelling.

“I couldn’t believe it when I turned round to see the red card.

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“Not because the ref had sent me off but because it had happened with so fast.

“They’d had kick off, passed it to the left-back who then hoofed it over the top.

“I’m on the edge of my area and as it’s bounced it’s hit a bobble and gone over me. I’ve tried to block the striker off because I knew he’d have a tap-in but he was pretty strong so I’ve had to wrap my arms around him and bring him down.

“I knew straight away I was going to be sent off.

“It’s the start and end of a very short goalkeeping career.”

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Ashcroft, the former North End striker, was playing up front for Ingol Rangers and duly stroked home the spot-kick. Table-toppers Ingol Rangers went on to win the game 6-2.

While Nicky’s sending off was rapid, it’s not the fastest straight from kick off.

In 2009, Chippenham striker David Pratt was sent off just three seconds into a game against Bashley for a bad tackle.

Goalkeeper Preston Edwards became a YouTube sensation in February 2011, racking up over eight million views when he was sent off after 10 seconds into a Conference South game for Ebbsfleet United against Farnborough after he too brought down a striker through on goal.

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But Sheffield United substitute Keith Gillespie holds the record when he was technically sent off after zero seconds during a Premier League game against Reading in January 2007 for elbowing Stephen Hunt in the face and duly saw red before the game had even been restarted.