By Deadly Submarine
May 5 2005

Tranmere have today ended speculation about the future of one of their nine out of contract players with the announcement that one of club's the longest serving players, Goalkeeper John Achterberg, has signed a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2007.

Most fans will be delighted to hear the news that Achterberg has decided to stay for another two years at the club where he has been a professional for nearly seven years.  No-one it seems will be more pleased than Big John himself who recently stated in the local press his fears that he may not be offered a new contract when his current deal expired in June.

 

Achterberg signed for Rovers in September 1998 from FC Utrecht and has since gone on to become first choice keeper and to date has made 262 appearances for Rovers.  This season John has appeared 43 times for the Whites despite a two month injury lay-off and has managed to keep fifteen clean sheets.

 

He has always been a popular figure at the club amongst both staff, players and fans and for the last few years he has been the Players Ambassador for the young supporters club, the Prenton Pups and always takes time out to attend their meetings.

 

Not renowned for his penalty saving abilities in his time at Rovers, he will always be remembered for his penalty save at Millwall in the FA Cup Quarter Final last season that earned Rovers a 0-0 draw and a replay that they subsequently lost.

 

Speaking to the Official Site John said “I’m thrilled to be staying at Tranmere, my family and I have really settled in the area and the supporters have been tremendous.  I’m looking forward to the play-offs and hope that we can get promoted to the Championship at the end of May.”

 

Rovers Boss Brian Little added “I’m delighted that John has signed a new contract as he is the model professional.  There have been quite a few clubs showing an interest in him so this shows John’s commitment to the club and the progress that we have made this season”.

 

It is thought that part of Achterberg’s role at the club will be as a goalkeeping coach at the clubs’ Centre of Excellence where he we help to discover and develop future goalkeepers for the club.  It is thought the interest in him that Brian Little speaks of may have come from the Dutch Premier Division, making John's decision to re-sign at Tranmere all the more delightful for all at the club and the fans.

 

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