Patience pays off for McLaughlin in his battle to be Bantams' No 1 guy

AS mentors go, Jon McLaughlin could not have asked for any better after belatedly making the step-up to professional football with Bradford City.

Nigel Martyn had been one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the Premier League and an England international with 23 caps to his name.

Perhaps more importantly, however, he was also someone who, just like McLaughlin, had come into the pro-game late after spending the early years of his career playing for a host of amateur sides in his native Cornwall.

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Such a grounding meant that, as a member of Bradford's coaching team, Martyn could pass on not only important goalkeeping tips but also the importance of McLaughlin being prepared to bide his time.

That patience has since paid off with the 22-year-old having, after two years at Valley Parade, finally established himself as City's No 1.

Martyn, who spent two days a week with Bradford, moved on this summer to be replaced by a full-time goalkeeping coach in Tim Dittmer.

But McLaughlin is in no doubt as to the debt he owes the former Leeds United and England man.

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Speaking to the Yorkshire Post ahead of City's home game with Port Vale, he said: "Nigel was great.

"He'd had an incredible career, playing at international level for England and all those games in the Premier League.

"I signed for Bradford in 2008 but had been training with the first team for a year before that. Nigel did a massive amount for me during that time and I really enjoyed working with him.

"It wasn't just the advice he gave. He had come into League football late so that acted as a bit of an inspiration to me. It showed what is possible for someone who had taken the same career path.

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"We would talk about the need to be patient and it really helped, especially last season when I felt ready but didn't get a chance until the final few games."

McLaughlin's late entry into the pro-game may not have been as random as that of Martyn, who was spotted by the tea lady at Bristol Rovers when playing for St Blazey and subsequently offered a trial by Pirates manager Ian Holloway.

But the City goalkeeper certainly paid his dues in the non-League game during spells with Harrogate Railway and Town.

He combined turning out for both clubs with studying full-time for a sports coaching degree at Leeds Metropolitan University, just as he did throughout the season he spent training with Bradford before signing that first professional contract in the summer of 2008.

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McLaughlin said: "It could get quite hectic, but everything worked out so it was definitely worth it.

"It was one of the coaches at Railway who was responsible for getting me a trial at Bradford. He also worked for the City Academy.

"He got me down to Valley Parade and I played a couple of games. After which, Stuart (McCall, manager) said, 'We have already signed our two goalkeepers for the season but would still like for you to come down and train'.

"It was tough at times, because I was full-time at Uni and also playing for Railway. But, luckily, a lot of my classes were in the afternoon so it meant I could get down to Bradford two or three mornings a week."

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The 2007-08 season that saw McLaughlin having to juggle the demands of studying, training and playing was made even more memorable by Railway enjoying a fairytale run in the FA Cup.

After kicking off in the preliminary round with a 4-1 win over Esh Winning, the UniBond Division One North outfit went on to knock out four sides from a higher division en route to reaching the second round proper.

By then, Railway were the lowest-ranked side still remaining in the competition so when the club was handed a home tie against Mansfield Town it was no surprise that the BBC should select the tie for live transmission.

McLaughlin, then 20, remembers the day vividly. He said: "The Cup run was brilliant anyway, but to draw Mansfield Town in the second round topped it off. When you play at the level Railway were at then it really is like a cup final to draw a league team live on television.

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"It was a massive occasion and all the lads were buzzing when the television cameras turned up to film us training during the build-up.

"The organisers also brought the FA Cup along, so that was great. Mansfield were in League Two at the time so it was a real challenge."

On the day, the heavens opened above Station View as Railway just failed to bridge a five-division gap between the two clubs as the Stags ran out

3-2 winners.

McLaughin said: "We played really well in difficult conditions, but unfortunately just couldn't do it. As I was training with Bradford during the week, it was nice that the gaffer (McCall) came along to look at Mansfield, who were playing Bradford a week later.

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"It meant he had a chance to see me in a game, which was a good incentive for me. The following week in training, we had a bit of banter as Bradford managed to draw against Mansfield."

McLaughlin's Cup displays persuaded Harrogate Town, who Railway had beaten in the qualifying rounds, to make a move for the goalkeeper. He went on to play 21 games as Town finished just outside the play-offs in Conference North before being offered a one-year deal at Valley Parade.

It meant putting his degree at Leeds Met on hold along with plans to go into coaching in America, but it proved a wise decision with two subsequent contracts being earned at City.

McLaughlin had to wait for his chance, Rhys Evans being the club's first choice goalkeeper in 2008-09 and then Simon Eastwood and Matt Glennon standing in his way for most of last season.

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It took the arrival of Peter Taylor to change all that and the manager's faith has been rewarded with some impressive displays, most notably in this season's Carling Cup ties against Nottingham Forest and Preston North End.

McLaughlin, who also represented Great Britain at the World Student Games last year, said: "I am enjoying it, though the results have been a bit up and down. We had two great games in the Carling Cup, but the league has not been as good.

"Our aim remains promotion so we have to sort it out. This is a big season for the club. We have to be successful. Everything has been in place for us to push on for a few years now but we just haven't been able to do it.

"We have to make sure we manage it this season. The new gaffer has come in and made a lot of changes. He wants to make it more of a professional environment and the lads have responded really well.

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"What we have to do now is get a few wins under our belts, starting against Port Vale this weekend."

FACTBOX

Born: September 9, 1987.

Previous clubs: Harrogate Railway, Harrogate Town.

Signed for Bradford City: May, 2008.

Debut: May 2, 2009, Chesterfield 0 Bradford City 2.

Home debut: April 4, 2010, Bradford City 1 Morecambe 1.

Appearances: League Two - 11. Carling Cup - 2.

Honours: Helped Great Britian to fourth place in the 2009 World Student Games in Belgrade, Serbia. He kept three clean sheets in five games.

Bradford City v Port Vale

Team news: Peter Taylor continues to be without Michael Flynn, Simon Ramsden and Leon Osbourne through injury for the visit of Port Vale, though all three are edging closer to a return. Jake Speight could be handed his first league start, while Shane Duff and Zesh Rehman are pushing for a recall following Bradford's poor defensive showing against Southend a week last Friday.

Last six games: Bradford City LWWLLL, Port Vale WDWLLW.

Referee: D Coote (Nottinghamshire).

Last time: Bradford City 0 Port Vale 0; August 15, 2009; League Two.

SkyBet odds: Bradford to win 6/4; Port Vale to win 7/4; Draw 12/5.