‘Scoring Is The Best Buzz You Can Get On The Pitch'

FOR 20 years, Alan Julian has dedicated himself to keeping the ball out of his net – but now he’s realised just how good it feels to score!

- David Richardson

The experienced Billericay Town goalkeeper netted a 93rd minute equaliser last weekend at Sutton United to keep his side in the FA Cup by forcing a replay.

Then on Tuesday night, after announcing the club had been taken over by a local consortium of businessmen, Ricay made sure to take full advantage of Julian’s heroics by thumping their National League opposition 5-2 via a Jake Robinson hattrick.

The 36-year-old is a three-time winner at Wembley, having won the 2007 FA Trophy with Stevenage, the League Two play-offs with Gillingham in 2009 and promotion through the Conference Premier play-offs with Newport County in 2013, but his first goal is something he’ll always remember.

“I don’t want to say it because I’m a goalkeeper, but scoring a goal is the best buzz you can get on a football pitch,” Julian told The NLP. “Winning a league or a cup is longer; but in terms of a short buzz, scoring is amazing. You can celebrate a goal whereas when you make a save, the game carries on. You have to stay professional. Never do you think you’ll end up scoring one day.”

Billericay trailed through Omar Bugiel’s early goal at Gander Green Lane but remained within touching distance thanks to a string of fine saves from Julian.