Berkhamsted hero is November’s Master at Work

When a video of a stunning 45-yard lob started doing the rounds on the internet last month, we knew we’d found the winner of November’s Master at Work award.

Berkhamsted FC’s Josh Chamberlain claimed Ladbrokes’ monthly accolade thanks to his stunning strike in their 3-1 FA Vase Second Round win over Kempston Rovers.

Speaking to Ladbrokes News, Berkamsted born and bred Chamberlain revealed a little bit of history was key to the amazing strike: “I used to play against the Kempston goalkeeper a couple of years back when he used to play for another local team at Ampthill Town.

“He always, always, always used to be off his line. He’s constantly off his line and he’s a really small goalkeeper as well.

“I just picked the ball up, got my head down and done the two geezers and just thought ‘I’ll have a go’ and might as well just see what happens and I’ve caught it an absolute beaut and it’s just sailed straight over him and in.”

Chamberlain – whose day job is working for a mystery shopping firm – is no one-hit wonder however, and the local hero has previous in humiliating goalkeepers.

“I did it before, about two months ago actually at home. I’ve done it three times all in all, but this is the first time I’ve done it in front of the cameras.

“The guys couldn’t believe it either. You can see on the video they’re all chasing after me, they’re going absolutely mad they couldn’t believe it and after the game they kept coming up to me ‘What was that all about? What are you doing shooting from there?’”

The goal quickly went viral on the World Wide Web, and it’s certainly brought 22-year-old Chamberlain a wave of attention.

“Yeah the publicity has been great. Just walking through town and things like that, people are coming up to me saying ‘Oh fantastic goal’ ‘I’ve seen your goal it’s been on the BBC’ ‘It’s been here, it’s been there’ So yeah it’s definitely made me more known around Berko.”

The official crowd to witness Chamberlain’s spectacular strike that day was 116, and the midfielder hopes the new-found attention on the club will have a positive influence.

“For Berko as well, the publicity and getting the name out there is great. Hopefully for the home games coming up it might bring a few more people down to watch us as well,” he said.

The goal has drawn comparisons to similar efforts from the likes of Xabi Alonso and David Beckham, but it’s another England international whose strike stands out for Chamberlain.

“I remember watching Wayne Rooney’s goal at West Ham a couple of years ago. That was unbelievable,” he told us.

“He sort of hit it on the half-volley and I was just coming in from playing a game myself, and that was unbelievable to watch.

“Beckham’s one too, what a finish that was. The keeper was maybe a little further off his line but it was an unbelievable goal.”

Berkhamsted are going rather well in the Spartans South Midlands Football League, but whatever happens, they can already point to one award this season.

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