Goalscoring goalkeeper on fire for Students

Photo: University's goalkeeper-turned-striker, Rory Mccallum

Three goals in four games is not a bad tally for a goalkeeper-turned-striker in the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League competition.

That is what University’s Rory Mccallum has achieved since being moved from goalkeeper to the outfield.

The 18-year-old Elizabeth College student has helped turn University around and the club are now close to moving off the foot of the ladder, where they face the prospect of relegation.

University are now only three points adrift of second-last Hobart Olympic and two wins in three games has been a huge morale booster for the Students.

Mccallum played youth soccer through to the under-19s for South Hobart but transferred to University this season.

He scored both goals in University’s 2-1 win over New Town Eagles last Saturday.

“I’ve come to University to get some first-team games and it’s been going well,” Mccallum said.

“There was a bit of a kafuffle about that second goal on Saturday.

“Eagles didn’t quite know the ruling on that one, but I knew the ruling because I’m a keeper.”

Mccallum said he enjoyed playing in the outfield because he has the fitness to do it.

“The coach saw me at training kicking a few balls and he thought I was pretty good up front so he just gave me a go and I scored,” Mccallum said.

“Hamish Peacock has come here as a goalkeeper and we had Julian Proud and a few other first-team players out so I was put at striker to see what could happen.”

Mccallum was in the under-19s at South Hobart but his desire for senior games prompted his move to University.

“It’s very hard to get Premier League or reserve football at South because they’ve got such good players,” he said.

“It’s hard as a goalkeeper to get in ahead of Sam Kruijver and Mark Moncur, so I managed to get first-team football at University.”

McCallum believes University can avoid the automatic drop to Division One, which is the fate awaiting the last-placed Premier League team this season.

“We’ve been playing really well and have got two wins in the past week,” he said.

“If we beat Olympic and New Town the next time, we surely will avoid the drop.”