Ghana and Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson has every cause to enjoy during the festive season after closing the year 2010 with the Tangerines on a positive note.
Having won the hearts of the Seasiders and kept three clean sheets out of five, the 32-year-old said the fans rock him on.
“I love the fans. Every time I see them behind my goal I feel good,” he told the Blackpool Gazzete.
“I always say to myself that if I were a (outfield) player I would score every day for them, but as I am a goalkeeper I have to do my best to stop the goals instead!”
Kingson stood out during their game against Sunderland and pulled off a string of fine saves resulting in a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Lights. He blocked all of Black Cats’ 16 shots on target.
“We were delighted with what happened at Sunderland. We all listened to what the manager said and did as he told us, and it paid off.
“It is Manchester City next, which is very tough, but every game in the Premier League is difficult. We will play our normal game at City and I believe that if we do the same things we did at Sunderland we will get a point.”
Blackpool’s manager Ian Holloway has been full of praise for his last line of defence ever since he took over from injured Matt Gilks.
“Richard deserves to be a cult hero and the lads are loving him. He has been a ray of sunshine ever since he got here. His music in the dressing room is fantastic. His smile is terrific and the odd thing is that if Gilks had stayed fit Richard probably wouldn’t even have played,” Holloway declared.
“That’s what life is all about. When you are part of something that is good, you have to try to bring something extra to it and he has been an absolute revelation.
“He has made us a lot calmer, I believe, because he is so calm himself. He tells the lads where he wants them and he has some fantastic ability. Well done to him and I’m glad we managed to get him.”