Joe Hart has been backed to grasp any chance that comes his way on the world stage – by one of the teachers who witnessed his footballing talents at an early age.
The former Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper is firmly part of England’s plans in South Africa as they gear up for Saturday’s big World Cup group C opener against the United States in Rutherford.
There has been continued speculation over who will play in goal, with Manchester City’s Hart competing for the No 1 spot along with West Ham’s Robert Green and Portsmouth stopper David James, who has been suffering from a knee injury.
And Jamie Norman, head of PE at Hart’s old secondary school, Meole Brace, firmly believes the 23-year-old can handle all that is thrown at him if selected during England’s cup campaign. “The school is so proud of Joe and excited by what he has achieved,” he said.
“We’ll be backing him all the way in the World Cup. The school has been in touch to wish him good luck.
“A lot of places seem to be up for grabs, I don’t think anyone quite knows who is going to play, not just in goal, but throughout the whole team.
“It’s made it very exciting, and we’ll be watching to see if Joe gets his chance in the World Cup.”
The 6ft 3ins keeper got another opportunity to impress coach Fabio Capello this week when playing in the first half of a World Cup warm-up against the Platinum Stars, with Green taking over for the second period of the low key 3-0 win.
Hart had little to do, and even when the local South African side were awarded a penalty, Bradley Grobler drove the ball over the bar.
Norman believes his former pupil’s work ethic as well as his natural talent has been key to his rapid rise to success since leaving Meole Brace where he was head boy in his last year, 2004.
“When I started teaching him in year nine, you could see he was a very talented athlete.
“But he was also prepared to work hard, and always wanted to learn. The fact he is so keen has put him in good stead.
“He always had the right attitude, which helped him get where he is along with the support of his family and friends.
“We always hoped he would make it as a professional as he was head and shoulders above everyone else, but you were never sure how far he could go.
“So everyone here is so proud that Joe has got to where he is and is now on the biggest stage of all.”
Hart, also a famous old boy at Oxon Primary School, made his mark in a host of sports as a youngster including cricket, athletics, basketball and rugby as well as, of course, football.
“He was a true all-round sportsman,” said Norman. “Even as a footballer he was very versatile.
“In his year he played in the centre of midfield. It wasn’t that he wasn’t good enough to play in goal, it was just that he was good everywhere. He played in goal for the year above, and you could see he was one for the future.”
Should Hart make the starting line-up during England’s World Cup campaign, it would mean a big payout
in the region of £500,000 from Manchester City to Shrewsbury, which was part of the agreement following his move from Town to the Premier League outfit.
By John Bridgwater