EFL Championship side Sheffield Wednesday have signed goalkeeper Killian Barrett, the stopper that arguably kept Binfield in the Isthmian League.
With the Moles losing 1-0 to Uxbridge in a game they needed to draw or win to guarantee safety on the final day of the season, Barrett stared down the oncoming centre forward and produced a dive at feet with zero margin for error.
As the Moles faithful took a deep breath, Barrett emerged with the ball safely in both hands. Exhale.
That moment was a precursor to the Moles equaliser with the last kick of the game, but it was the key moment in the tie that kept Binfield up – there would have been no coming back from 2-0 down.
Barrett’s meteoric rise to the Championship began as a seven year old playing for Ballisodare United in his native Ireland, where he was scouted by Mayo SL Airtricity and went on to win the All Ireland Futsal title with his school.
Binfield wasn’t Barrett’s only stop in the UK, on moving to England as a 17 year old he signed for Hartley Wintney. Last season he took an opportunity for first team football at Combined Counties League Woodley United before being snapped up by new Binfield boss Ross Weatherstone for the Moles great escape.
Writing on Twitter, Woodley boss Jordan Blake said: “I am filled with so much joy and happiness right now for Killian. I have first hand seen his dedication, hard work to improving his game every training session and game.
“After coming into us half way through last year at Step 6 and a number of incredible performances to deservedly get a move to Binfield with Ross working with Charles Stallard was just the start!”
The Sheffield Star reports it has been a busy summer for Barrett: “Wednesday took the young stopper with them to their recent preseason camp at St. George’s Park so that he could spend some time around the first team, and he then joined the U21s for their time in York as they prepare for the season ahead in the Professional Development League.
“Now it has been announced that the former Binfield goalkeeper has joined the ranks at Middlewood Road, and he’ll be looking to try and kick on following his first steps into professional football.”
