A former goalkeeper has developed a new type of football set to take the coaching world by storm and is already being used by Premiership giants Liverpool.

Glenn Robertson, of Western Road, in Sutton, created the revolutionary Responseball, to improve goalkeepers’ concentration and reflexes.

The 33-year-old came up with the idea by attaching a series of bumps to various points of a conventional football causing it’s bounce and flight to be completely random, making it a crucial tool for goalkeepers.

Mr Robertson said: “I scored an unenviable hat-trick last year as I was made redundant three times in 12 months.

"So, I decided it was time to bring my experience in coaching and marketing and my creativity together and turn my passion for goalkeeping into a profession.

“Its unique design and unpredictable bounce mean that it improves goalkeepers’ hand-eye co-ordination, agility, first touch, reactions, shot-stopping and, above all, concentration.

“We’re going to add explanatory videos and a comprehensive programme of specific exercises to the website to help coaching.

“The Responseball has also been taken on by all the major goalkeeping retailers in the UK, so I am so pleased with the support for this new product so far.”

The former semi-professional footballer was already an experienced player and coach having worked in the UK and USA with young goalkeepers.

Mr Robertson is also looking for schools to use the ball to improve children’s motor skills and co- ordination.

Such is the success of Responseball that it is already being used at Premiership side Liverpool and Championship side Ipswich Town.

Mark Morris, head of youth goalkeeping at Liverpool Football Club, said: “The Responseball is excellent for use in youth goalkeeper training sessions.

“We’ve tested it with the younger keepers as a way of helping them concentrate more on the ball and not to go to ground too early.

"It is an enjoyable inclusion in any youth training session.”