Ebbsfleet United goalkeeper Preston Edwards has become an internet sensation after he was sent off just ten seconds into a match.
The 21-year-old was given his marching orders in a Blue Square Premier match against Farnborough after disastrous defending left Kezie Ibe through on goal.
As Ibe took the ball around Edwards, the young goalkeeper fouled him – awarding Farnborough a penalty with referee instantly handing out a red card.
A frustrated Edwards accepts the decision but storms off, throwing his goalkeeper gloves on the ground.
Ebbsfleet, who didn’t have a substitute keeper, put 18-year-old midfielder Tom Phipp in goal for the remainder of the match.
Phipp got a hand on Bradley Bubb’s poor penalty kick but couldn’t prevent it hitting the back of the net. Farnborough ran out 3-0 winners in the end.
It’s believed Edwards’ dismissal is the quickest ever for a goalkeeper – although it’s still shy of the three seconds taken Chippenham striker David Pratt to get sent off against Bashley in 2008.
More than 600,000 have watched Edwards’ embarrassing dismissal on Youtube since the match on February 5 – turning the keeper into an unlikely hero.
He told BBC Radio Kent: “I’d like to be known for better, different reasons, but it’s happened.
“I’ve got to take it on the chin. At least I’ve got something in history.
“I heard there are thousands of hits on YouTube, it’s all gone a bit mental. I heard on the first day it was 80,000 and it keeps going up and up and up.”
