Exclusive:Hebburn Town goalkeeper signs new deal - but will face competition next season

Hebburn Town manager Daniel Moore believes goalkeeper Callum Dobson is a ‘long-term player’ for the National League North newcomers - but warned he will face competition for a place in his starting lineup during the new season.

The former South Shields stopper spent the vast majority of last season out on loan at Northern Premier League East Division side Blyth Spartans as they avoided a third consecutive relegation that would have taken them into the Northern League for the first time since 1994. Dobson’s performances for the Croft Park club earned him the Fans’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards - but he ended the season back at Hebburn as he appeared in the final day home win against Rushall Olympic that saw the Hornets crowned as Northern Premier League Premier Division champions.

Dobson’s unexpected appearance in the final 90 minutes of a historic campaign was triggered by Sunderland’s decision to recall Isaac Allan from a loan spell at the Trustmark Group Stadium - and Moore has revealed he is keen to see the Black Cats youngster return to the club for the new season and challenge Dobson for a place in his starting eleven.

He told The Gazette: “I see Callum as a long-term player for Hebburn. He went out on loan, he got game-time in and you can see his growth in stature and confidence after he returned. He’s a confident young goalkeeper and he will go from strength-to-strengh. It was important to sort that out and there aren’t many young goalkeepers around playing in non-league where you think he has a chance. He will get an opportunity. We are exploring getting Isaac back but we want Callum to be competing.

“I think Isaac has every chance of having a real career in the game. His attitude, his calmness, his goalkeeping ability, everything. But to have such confidence at a young age, I feel like he made such a big difference to us. He has a presence, he has a confidence and if he doesn’t come to us I hope he gets a crack at a league club or a National League club because he has a real chance of progressing at the level and I can see him playing professionally at a high level.”

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