PROVING the doubters wrong is Cameron Belford’s inspiration after he signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with Bury earlier this week.

The Shakers goalkeeper has been a revelation after replacing Wayne Brown as the club’s number one at the back end of last season.

The 22-year-old suffered a setback in October when he sustained a fractured cheekbone during a physical challenge with an opposition striker, but he has recovered full fitness and has come back stronger than ever.

Despite being one of the shortest keepers in the Football League, he is fast emerging as one of the best prospects in the lower divisions and he is revelling in defying his critics.

“I have had managers saying that I am not big enough,” said Belford, who rates Bury-born goalkeeper Andy Goram as one of his heroes. “I had it when I was released by Coventry because they said I wasn’t physically up to playing in the Championship.

“Hopefully I can prove a few people wrong. My dad (Dale) was the same – he wasn’t the tallest of keepers but he still made a good career in non-league.

“Because I am only around 6ft I have to be better in other areas and I think I can do everything a tall keeper can do. I come for high balls, I dive at feet and it is all part and parcel of being a good goalkeeper.

“The modern goalkeeper is 6ft 5ins and smaller goalies are a dying breed but I don’t think I am at any disadvantage. I was brought up to be brave on the pitch – if the ball is there to be won, I want to win it.”

Alan Knill is delighted to secure the future of Belford and has compared his protègè to Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

“It’s brilliant that Cameron has signed a new deal,” said Knill. “He has done fantastically well for us this season.

“He is one of a new breed of goalkeepers. He might not be physically huge but he is really athletic and is in a similar mould to somebody like Pepe Reina.”