DARRYL Flahavan feels Cameron Belford’s fine form in goal for Southend United has again proved size does not matter for goalkeepers.

Flahavan impressed during a successful nine-year stint at Roots Hall despite being under six feet tall.

And he is now delighted to see Belford, who is of a similar stature, also doing well for Blues.

“It’s only in this country where we seem to be fixated about the height of a goalkeeper and I actually think smaller keepers are tidier,” said Flahavan, who made 351 appearances while with Southend.

“They have that because they’ve had to prove themselves over the years and it shouldn’t be like that.

“You look at goalkeepers like Michel Vorm at Swansea and Shay Given and neither of them are over six foot.

“Ike Casillas is the same and he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world, so I don’t understand why it’s talked about so much.

“Goalkeepers are paid to keep the ball out of the net and it doesn’t matter how tall they are to do that.

“You see goalkeepers who are 6ft 4ins tall in the lower leagues and they must have something missing from their game to still be at that level.

“Smaller goalkeepers are technically better in my opinion and more consistent too.

“I would like to think I’ve shown that over the years and from looking at Cameron’s record at Southend I’m sure he’s doing the same.

“I saw the game on Sky against Crawley and thought he was outstanding and I hope he is again in the play-offs because I obviously want Southend to go up.”

Belford can become the first ever Blues shot-stopper to keep six successive clean sheets if he shuts out Crewe this Saturday.

And the match will bring back good memories for Flahavan who, back in April 2008, saved two penalties in a 3-1 win at Gresty Road for Southend.

“That Crewe game was one of my favourites and it was nice to save the pens,” said Flahavan, 34.

“The first one we had done some homework on and the second one I just guessed and got lucky.

“But I was lucky because there were plenty of good games and memories from my time at Southend.”

Those happy moments included promotion via the League Two play-offs in 2005.

However, Flahavan was also part of the Southend side who were beaten 5-1 against Doncaster Rovers in the League One play-offs three years later.

“I’ve had the good side and the bad side of the play-offs,” recalled Flahavan.

“The good side was fantastic and I think it’s definitely the best way to go up.

“But losing like we did at Doncaster was hard to take, especially as that proved to be my last ever game for Southend.”

FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S ECHO