Danny Paton-Cavanagh

2008-08-09T04:20:00.000-07:00

Soccer Bio

2008-08-07T15:16:00.001-07:00

When I was learning to walk, my dad says I’d throw myself on the ground when I got excited about something. A full-stretch dive – when I was just a toddler!

Like most kids, I started playing soccer in kindergarten, with my friends at recess.

I started playing organized soccer at age 6. Because I was tall and fast for my age, I liked to play striker. I scored a lot of goals! Everyone took turns being in the net.

When I was eight, I watched the World Cup for the first time. I thought Fabien Barthez was amazing, so I spent more time playing in goal. The next summer, my dad and I built a mini-goal in the backyard, and my friends took turns shooting on me. I was hooked!

By about U10, I was in goal all the time. That was good, because no one on my team wanted to be goalkeeper.

For a while my family had a tenant who was an elite soccer player, about 18 years old. I loved it when he took shots on me – he shot really hard! I didn’t mind that he broke my wrist once. As soon as it healed I went back in goal.

In U11, I went to a big tournament in Kamloops. I won player of the match once or twice that weekend. We made it to the finals against an awesome team a year older than us. We lost … in penalty kicks. It was sad, but really fun because I made some big saves.

After that I started training with Island Keeper Clinic, which is run by Shel Brodsgaard, who was a pro player and then coached the Canadian national team goalkeepers. His number one assistant coach is Bob Stankov, who played for the Edmonton Aviators in the old Canadian Soccer League. “Big Daddy” Bobby (6’7” and 240lbs!) is still my main coach.

One of the highlights of my life was taking a soccer trip in 2007 to the Netherlands. Our team played 21 games in 11 days, and I trained with Wouter van Voorthuizen of FC Feyenoord.

The next year I went to Germany with the BC provincial team. We trained next to Fenerbahce of the Turkish Super Lig one day, and the next day there was the German national U17 girls team. Awesome!

In 2008 I did one-week professional trials at Sheffield Wednesday and Dundee FC. Dundee asked me back for the summer of 2009. At the end of that summer they offered me a two-year professional apprenticeship when I turn 17 in 2010.

I'm in Canada now while I wait to go back to the UK this summer. I go to a soccer high school in Victoria and play soccer six days a week, 12 months of the year …

… and I still love it!!

Accolades

2008-08-07T14:38:00.001-07:00

Goalkeeping Accomplishments

Testimonials

Goalkeeping Accomplishments

U11 First formal GK training with Brett Hyslop of World Cup Inc.
U12 Began weekly GK training with Island Keeper Clinic
U12 Kamloops Invitational Tournament Final Game MVP
U13 Lakehill Club “GK Of The Year” (U8-U18)
U13 Final selection camp, British Columbia provincial team
U14 Lower Island Soccer Association (LISA) Selects, starting GK -- lowest season goals-against average in the league
U14 LISA GK Of The Year
U14 Final selection camp, British Columbia provincial team
U14 Four weekends of residential training with Shel Brodsgaard, former GK coach with Canadian national women’s team
U14 Victoria United Super Y, starting GK
U14 Training trip to Netherlands and Germany -- trained with Wouter van Voorthuizen of FC Feyenoord
U15 Accepted to Reynolds High School Centre For Soccer Excellence (CSE) -- played on senior school team in freshman year
U15 CSE Grade 9 student player of the year
U15 LISA Selects, starting GK
U15 USL Super Y Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) invitational camp -- only GK in age group with clean sheet in open play
U15 guest at Canadian National Training Centre (NTC)
U15 GK for Vic West Over 40’s men’s team
U15 winter training with Bays United Div. 1 Men’s team
U15 BC provincial team -- training trip to Germany
U15 Professional academy trials at Sheffield Wednesday, Dundee FC -- return invitation, Dundee FC, summer 2009
U16 LISA regional Selects -- captain and starting goalkeeper
U16 full member, National Training Centre (NTC)
U16 CSE Grade 10 student player of the year
U16 Reynolds High School, Outstanding Junior Male Athlete Of The Year
U16 Victoria Highlanders (PDL) Prospects -- youngest player to train with Reserves
U16 EMsports Academy -- see his image advertising the academy at http://www.emsports.ca/
U16 Victoria United U21 -- debut July 4, 2009
U16 Five-week professional trial, Dundee FC -- apprenticeship offer at age 17
U17 Victoria Highlanders Reserves
U17 LISA regional Selects -- captain and starting goalkeeper
U17 Sooke Celtics Div. 1 Men -- debut October 9, 2009
U17 Two-week fall training trip, Dundee FC
U17 Promoted to U18 Div. 1 youth team
U17 Cowichan Div. 1 Men -- debut December 15, 2009
U17 Aviata Sports -- sponsorship agreement to promote goalkeeper gloves and clothing
U17 Two-week spring training trip, Dundee FC -- Man of the Match, Dundee FC senior team inter-squad game
U18 Began two-year professional apprenticeship with Dundee FC 19s

Testimonials
Coming Soon

Video

2008-08-07T14:37:00.001-07:00

Danny's Training Program

2008-08-07T14:36:00.001-07:00

On days that I don’t have team training (and on some days that I do!) I do some weight training:

2 x 100 hand grips
5 minutes balance wheel
50 passes, medicine ball
3 x 12 regular squats + 5 deep squats (with spotter)

Weights:

3 x 12 flies
3 x 12 bench presses
3 x12 military presses
3 x 12 bicep curls
3 x 12 tricep curls
3 x 12 leg lifts

60 situps

25 pushups

20 minutes elliptical trainer

I also do a plyometric program:

After each exercise (except the last sprint) I jog back to the beginning:

Slalom-jump back and forth down the line, using small quick jumps
Knees to chest, jump down the line at maximum height
Facing the line, moving quickly down the line jumping back and forth
Do the last one again, facing the other direction
Hop on right foot going down the line. Go for maximum height.
Hop on left foot down the line. Go for maximum height.
Long jump down the line. Go for maximum distance. Keep feet together the whole time.
Lunge walk down the line.
Slalom run. Long stride, arc and jump. Must be fluid.
Sprint to end of line and back.

This is something I do as well: take a soccer ball and jump up and push it into the cross bar 20 times in a row. Proper catches!

Gear Box

2008-08-07T14:35:00.002-07:00

This is the gear I like these days:

Gloves

Aviata Salvo Pro

Aviata Venum Pro

Cleats

ASICS Lethal RS-FG

Danny Paton-Cavanagh’s Soccer Plan

2008-08-07T14:35:00.001-07:00

I’m now in the “window of opportunity” for people seriously considering a professional sports career.

This plan will help me pursue my goal, as long as I choose to keep the dream alive.

Date:
January 2007, renewed August 2008, August 2009, August 2010

Goal:
To convert my experience as a professional soccer apprentice at Dundee FC into a first-team professional contract by the time I'm 19.

Partners:
Danny; parents and family; coaches; school teachers

Parent/Family basic tasks

help Danny keep the fun in playing
constructively encourage Danny in pursuit of the goal but remember that he owns this goal
avoid being intrusive in relationships with coaches and recruiters
provide emotional and moral support as long as the goal continues
provide physical well-being (e.g. feeding, clothing, housing)
provide on-going financial backing for equipment, league play, camps, tryouts, and trips, as long as Danny carries out his own tasks to the satisfaction of the partners
every year, evaluate (with Danny) progress towards the goal
work with other partners to facilitate Danny’s objectives, and evaluate his progress

Danny’s basic tasks

keep checking to make sure the joy is still there … even when things aren’t going well
be diligent, hardworking, and of good character, in pursuit of the goal
keep time for non-soccer activity, and be vigilant for soccer burn-out
be willing to examine and recognize weaknesses (and strengths!) in technique and attitude
respond constructively to the advice (on field and off) of coaches and teachers
fulfill obligations at school, and within family and community
explore ideas for “Plan B” i.e. what Danny will do as an alternative to the present goal, or (after graduation from high school) while he continues to pursue his goal
keep perspective on non-goal interests

Danny’s specific short-term tasks (i.e. now and during the next year or so)

while continuing to enjoy soccer on TV, study professional games for insights into technique and style
look for opportunities to watch goalkeepers work in person
use video analysis to enhance learning and training
list and address technical (i.e. soccer) weaknesses, in consultation with coaches
maintain sleep and nutrition regimes consistent with a high-performance athlete
with a personal trainer (or someone recommended by the partners), establish a goalkeeper-specific weight-training regime
explore cross-training opportunities (e.g. gymnastics, dance, basketball)
take a short course on meditation and stress management to help with focus
look for opportunities to train and play in soccer centers on the Mainland, in North America, and in Europe
develop strategies for middle-term tasks

Danny’s Specific middle-term tasks (i.e. 1-3 years from now)

successfully complete two-year professional apprenticeship at Dundee FC
secure a first-team professional contract

Vital Stats

2008-08-07T14:32:00.001-07:00

Name:
Danny Paton-Cavanagh

Home:
Victoria BC, Canada

Citizenship:

Canadian

UK work permit

Birth:
February 6, 1993

Height:
6 feet 3.75 inches (1.92m) April 2010
6 feet 3 inches (1.90m), June 2009
6 feet 2 inches (1.88m), June 2008
6 feet (1.83m), March 2007

Weight:
175lb (79.5kg) April 2010
165lb (74.8kg), June 2009
153lb (69.4kg), June 2008
140lb (63.5kg), March 2007

School:
Reynolds High School (Centre For Soccer Excellence)

Club:
First year professional apprentice, Dundee FC 19s (2010-11)

Club Coach:
Barry Smith
c/o Laura Hayes, Club Secretary
Dundee Football Club
laura@dundeefc.co.uk

Steve Simonson
Youth coach, Victoria Highlander FC
250-889-8036
ssimonson@victoriahighlandersfc.com

Keeper Coaches:
Bob Stankov
Senior coach, Island Keeper Clinic
250-213-8324
rpstankov@shaw.ca

Bobby Geddes
Goalkeeper coach, Dundee FC, Scotland
rged@blueyonder.co.uk

Shel Brodsgaard
Former Goalkeeper Coach, Canadian Women’s Team
250-335-0008
sheldano@telus.net

Dennis Kindel
Goalkeeper Coach, Vancouver Whitecaps
604-880-7479

Kevin Muldoon
Goalkeeper Coach, Canadian National Team (Youth Development)

416-263-5890 Ext. 5883
kmuldoon@soccercan.ca

George Konstantinov
Former Goalkeeper, Zenit St. Petersburg
250-744-2710
keeper.74@gmail.com