Ben says he has got better from working with experienced goalkeepers.

Crewe Alexandra’s number one Ben Garratt believes that he finished last season as a more complete goalkeeper after working under coaches’ Scott Shearer and then Fred Barber.

Previously, the England youth goalkeeper had worked closely with our former stopper Steve Phillips and the Shrewsbury-born Garratt saw his incredible progress win both the supporters and his fellow team-mates’ Player-of-the-Season awards.

Garratt won the double award despite fracturing his leg away at Barnsley in February. He successfully returned to fitness in the run-in to deputise for Paul Rachubka. 

Ben told the club’s official web-site: “I’ve picked up different aspects of goalkeeping from the different goalkeepers and coaches I’ve worked with. I’ve picked up things from Scott and Steve when they were in the role and then Fred came in at the beginning of the year and helped me a lot.

“I’ve enjoyed working under the different coaches and I felt that I ended the season as a better goalkeeper than when I started the season and that is what I want to do every season if I can. They have all helped me improve as a goalkeeper with the experience they have.”

Ben has returned to full time training today with the rest of the squad and he is looking forward to getting back in the routine.

Ben told crewealex.net: “It is nice for the boys to get a rest and recharge. That is important but once that is over, it is nice to get back, to see everyone and get back into the routine. I am just looking forward to getting back into it and playing again.

 “The leg is as good as new now and I was pleased to get back to make myself available at the end of the season. No-one wants to be catching up with their fitness going into the pre-season work and I’m fit and feel good.”