Gary Parsons knows all the highs and lows of football, the ecstacy of scoring and the agony of conceding.

He plays in goal for his Sunday League side Adur Old Boys, but he is also their penalty taker.

It has long been suspected that many goalkeepers are actually repressed outfield footballers.

Gary, 23, readily admits as much: "I used to play upfront for Shoreham United, but I no longer have the time to practise because of my job. I play in goal now - not out of choice, but because I like to keep my hand in."

At Shoreham, Gary used to score goals regularly for the reserves and he has not lost his eye for goal. Gary has scored six already this season - all from the spot - and he's hungry for more too.

"I want to get into double figures this season," he said. "I try to emulate Cantona. As he said 'if you get nervous taking penalties in football you should not be playing the game'.

"I know where it's going to go but different situations call for different approaches, so I try to vary my kicks.

"I get a lot of banter off the opposition when I run from my goal to take the penalties. They just can't believe it. They can't resist trying to put me off, that's why it's nice to score.

"I love taking penalties. There's nothing like putting the ball in the back of the net. When we get a penalty I always sprint up to take it."

Gary is adament nothing in football compares to scoring: "Scoring goals is the best aspect of the game. Some of the saves I've made have given me a good feeling, but there's nothing worse than conceding a goal."

Gary once let his captain take a penalty instead. He explained: "He was on a hat-trick so I let him take it, but I won't be doing that again. He's got his hat-trick now so that's the end of that."

Old Boys manager Ian Happer doesn't mind seeing his keeper sprint up from the back to get in on the action.

"He was a centre forward so he knows how to score," said Gary. "He's definitely our best penalty taker, he started taking them in pre-season and hasn't looked back."

Aside from Cantona, Gary also lists the Paraguyan keeper Jose Luis Chilavert among his role models. Chilavert, now at Strasbourg, used to captain his national team and is known for his extrovert style of play and deadly free-kicks and penalties.

"He's someone to aspire to," said Gary. "But he does it at a slightly higher level so there's more pressure."