Lumley the competitor eyeing another FA Cup shock

Joe Lumley smiles ruefully after a stint on the oche with Ryan Manning at Sharkey's Sports Bar in Southampton.

Joe “The Arrow” is the bigger scorer but Ryan “The Falcon” is a ruthless finisher, taking out his doubles to reel off leg after leg.

It’s nine years since the pair first crossed paths upon Manning’s arrival in England at Queens Park Rangers in January 2015. They’ve been competing ever since.

“He was a little dweeb back then,” Lumley grins, glancing in the direction of the Irishman across the pool hall.

“We’ve had a few holidays together. I used to stay at his when I was at QPR, and then when he went to Swansea we kept in contact.

“We’ve got a few group chats with a few of my mates from school, so he knows them, but we’ve always kept in contact since we met.

“It’s a bit of a bromance, but I hate losing games to him – we’re always playing silly games and I absolutely hate it when he beats me! I can’t lie, I used to beat him all the time, but lately he’s been beating me at everything.”

Joe Lumley takes on Ryan Manning at Sharkey's Sports Bar in Southampton

Darts is a staple at Staplewood. There’s a portable dartboard that sits on a stand in the dressing room, and the players split into pairs for doubles matches after training. There’s a league table and two divisions; there’s even promotion and relegation.

“We play darts, we play loads of golf together,” Lumley says of the rivalry with Manning. “You should come out and watch us on the golf course. We don’t speak – we’re just trying to beat each other!

“If we played each other at Tiddlywinks, we’d be so competitive, but it’s good though. We’re like two little kids.”

The Lumley-Manning friendship is just one of many within an increasingly tight-knit squad, as Saints’ season goes from strength to strength.

Manning was the first signing of the Russell Martin era last summer, with the pair already forging a strong bond in their two seasons together at Swansea, while Lumley, as the keeper explains, has close ties to goalkeeping coach Dean Thornton.

“I’ve known Deano longer than I’ve known Ryan,” he reveals. “Deano was my youth team goalie coach at QPR, so when I signed at QPR when I was 16, he was the goalie coach for my first two years there.

“I can’t thank Deano enough for the help and advice he’s given me throughout my career. When he left QPR, I still kept in contact with him, and he’s a big part of why I am where I am today.

“He was a big influence on me coming here. When he rung me and told me he was interested in bringing me in, I couldn’t turn it down.

“Obviously the opportunity of coming to work with him again, but the opportunity of coming to a massive club and a club that wants to be in the Premier League.”

These relationships are running right through the club now. Martin’s two January signings, Joe Rothwell and David Brooks, are Bournemouth teammates, and already close to captain Jack Stephens after his loan spell at the Vitality Stadium last term.

Martin has now recruited 10 players in his first two transfer windows as Saints boss, and every single one of them has a history with the manager or his staff, or played with a teammate prior. It accelerates the settling-in process, and strengthens the family feel.

Lumley showcases his composure with the ball at his feet against Walsall

Close connections are key to making Saints purr on the pitch. The eye-catching brand of football is built on familiarity of movement and understanding of each other’s game.

That starts from the goalkeeper, who is encouraged to take risks in possession. That’s how Saints suck players in, break through the press and end up with numerical advantages in the final third of the pitch.

“I’ve had my fair share of clubs that I’ve been at. I’ve got more clubs than Rory McIlroy!” Lumley, always jovial, exclaims when asked how Saints’ approach compares to the demands from his former teams.

“When I was young, I was always brought up to play out from the back, so it’s not new to me, but it’s a different structure to what I was used to back in the day,” he says.

“Especially the way the gaffer plays, we’re on the ball and we’ve got to get the ball and play passes that the midfielders would do. But if we give it away, it’s a goal, so we’ve got to be so brave.

“At first it’s new and you’ve got to learn the way the gaffer wants to play, but you look now and everyone knows how he wants to play. We’ve been incredible, everyone. The lads who played in the FA Cup, in the league, everyone can do their job at any time.

“I really enjoy it. I think it’s the best [way] for me to play like this, because I can show my full potential with my feet and my goalkeeping skills.

“When you look at the modern goalie nowadays, you’ve got to be great with your feet to play at a top level, so for me it’s the best way to play football.”

Lumley’s three Saints appearances to date have all come in the Emirates FA Cup, starting with a clean sheet on his debut in the 4-0 rout of Walsall. “That was the first time I’d ever played at St Mary’s, and I loved it. Absolutely loved it. The atmosphere and the crowd were incredible.”

Walking out at St Mary's for the very first time on his Saints debut last month

After a 1-1 draw at Watford in the next round, the prospect of a replay was viewed as an inconvenience in some quarters, but for Lumley it meant another chance to impress his manager. Another clean sheet and another assured performance followed, as Saints won 3-0.

The FA Cup has been kind to the shot-stopper, who turned 29 this month, in the past. In each of the last two seasons, the fourth-round draw has sent Lumley to Old Trafford, first with Middlesbrough, and then with Reading, where he was crowned Player of the Year last term.

It is the Boro trip that raises the widest smile, as Lumley recounts the night he became the face of a famous upset.

After facing up to Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty, which the Portuguese dragged wide of the post – Lumley did dive the right way though – he conceded to Jadon Sancho’s deflected shot.

But the Championship side fought back to equalise, taking the game to extra time and penalties, converting all eight of their spot-kicks before Anthony Elanga blazed over from United’s eighth. Boro were through, as the live BBC cameras honed in on Lumley.

“I set off as if I’d saved every single penalty, but I didn’t even save one!” he laughs. “I was running up and down the line, pushing Rashford out of the way! It was great, an incredible feeling.

“That’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve had in football, beating them, so I can’t imagine what it’s like to win a trophy or get promoted. That feeling of winning a big, big football match… you can’t compare it to anything else.”

This time around, it’s not Old Trafford but Anfield that lies in wait after Watford were dispatched at St Mary’s.

The draw was actually made shortly after kick-off in the original tie at Vicarage Road, but the news soon filtered through to Saints’ last line of defence, especially after the Hornets took an early lead.

“I actually heard the Watford fans singing ‘Scousers we’re coming for you’, so I put two and two together and figured it out. Obviously when we scored, they shut up,” he smiles. “I’ve always wanted to play at Anfield against Liverpool. That’s a massive motivation for us.”

Lumley admits his first job upon joining Saints was “to train and push the goalies,” but reveals he has loftier ambitions now, and the prospect of taking on Liverpool could further endorse his credentials to realise his ultimate ambition.

“Obviously I want to play every single game and it’s tough as a goalie because only one goalie can play, but Gavin’s been incredible,” he says.

“I’m just trying to push him every single day and make him better, and improve everything that I need to do and keep him on his toes.

“My aim is to take the shirt off him, but also support him at the same time. It’s part and parcel of being a goalie – you’ve got to sit on the bench and wait for your opportunity. These are the games when you’ve got to take your opportunities to show the gaffer and everyone what you’re about.”

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