From Blue To Crewe, Brewer To Ram - Who Is Adam Legzdins?
Sunday, 3rd Jul 2011 13:23 by Daniel J Sewart

As always RamZone has prepared a comprehensive player profile for Derby’s latest signing. With the news that the Rams had signed a new keeper – we asked the question – who is Adam Legzdins?

Adam Richard Legzdins was born Penkridge, Staffordshire on the 28th of November 1986 and qualifies to play international football for Latvia via his paternal grandparents.

As a junior he came through the ranks of the Birmingham City Academy system and played his first competitive football in October 2005 on loan at Alfreton Town in the Conference North.

Legzdins signed his first one-year professional contract in the summer of 2006 for Birmingham and was given a Birmingham squad number due to an injury to first choice keeper Maik Taylor.

In October 2006 he joined Oldham Athletic on loan where he was backup for Les Pogliacomi and made one substitute appearance in the Football League Trophy.

Adam then joined Macclesfield Town on loan and was expected to go straight into the starting eleven due to injury and suspension but manager Paul Ince surprisingly chose goalkeeping coach David Rouse to fill the void instead.

He returned to Birmingham without playing a match for Ince and went on to assist the Birmingham reserves win the Central League Division One title in 2006–07.

Legzdins was given a one year contract extension in the summer of 2007 and rejoined Halifax on a three months' loan in October 2007 where he played regularly in preference to the more experienced Craig Mawson.

His loan was extended at Halifax until the end of the 2007–08 season.

With his contract at Birmingham expired, he was snapped up by player maker Dario Gradi at Crewe Alexandra in June 2008 as a replacement for the Railwaymen’s departing goalkeepers Ben Williams and Owain Fôn Williams.

Crewe loaned Adam to Weymouth on a month's loan in March 2009 but Legzdins finally made his first team debut for Crewe in the League Cup defeat to Blackpool in August of 2009. His the Football League debut came immediately after on when he kept a clean sheet in their 1–0 home win against his former club Hereford United.

Legzdins was offered a new one-year contract by Crewe in May of 2010 but decided to instead sign a two year deal with League Two club Burton Albion. He kept a clean sheet on his full debut in August of 2010 against Oxford United.

Adam went on to play in every League game of the 2010–11 season and was voted Burton Albion Supporters ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Players Player of the Year’.

His outstanding season between the sticks meant rumours circulated that various teams were chasing the player’s signature but Burton manager Paul Peschisolido made it clear he hoped to keep the player at the Pirelli stadium.

Eventually an undisclosed fee was agreed to by the Brewers and Derby County and Legzdins joined just in time for the start of pre-season training for the clubs 11/12 campaign.

Legzdins signed on a three-year deal and Nigel Clough made it clear he had signed the keeper as backup for first choice keeper Frank Fielding.

"We highlighted the importance of having a good number two to back Frank up some time ago and we feel that Adam fits the bill for us.”

“We want Ross Atkins to go out on loan again this season and get some experience and Saul Deeney won't be back from his shoulder injury until later in the year, so bringing another goalkeeper in has been a priority.”

"Adam is at a good age as well and we feel he is a goalkeeper who will improve all the time and challenge Frank for his place."

Legzdins was happy to become a Ram but had other ideas about playing second fiddle to Fielding for the season:

"I am thrilled to get the opportunity to come to Derby County and test myself at this level, this is a great opportunity for me to improve myself and further my career.”

"It was obviously a tough call to leave Burton and the many friends I have made there in the last year behind, but I would be foolish not to take up the challenge at this stage of my career.”

"I will always be grateful to Burton for what they have done for my career, but to come to Derby County was a move I really couldn't turn down. The facilities here are second to none and I hope to make the most of them and learn off Nigel Clough and his staff to become an even better goalkeeper."

"I don't think I can look as if I am coming here as a number two, although I accept I am coming here perhaps a little bit behind Frank. But I am not arriving with the mindset I will be on the bench every week, I am confident in my own ability and I have push myself to get past Frank”.

"Frank is a fantastic goalkeeper who has done really well at Derby and has already been in the England squad, so I am really looking forward to working with him and learning from Martin Taylor and our other goalkeepers.”

"At the same time, I don't want to accept I will be a number two and I hope I can improve as a goalkeeper working with the staff here. If I can do that, and build on last year at Burton, I don't see any reason why I can't eventually be in the team."

RamZone welcomes Adam Legzdins to DCFC and hope he has a long and successful career in a Rams shirt and we wish him all the best in striving to become the clubs number one keeper.