Burnley Football Club, currently in third place in the league, finds itself in the spotlight thanks to its 22-year-old goalkeeper, James Trafford. Trafford has not conceded a goal in his last seven starts, continuing a remarkable streak that began with an impressive performance against Sunderland. This streak is underscored by a humorous bet made by J.J. Watt, a partial owner of Burnley FC. Watt jokingly promised to retire if Trafford finished the season without conceding a goal.
Trafford's journey began with a standout game against Sunderland, where he saved two late penalty kicks. Since then, his performances have been nothing short of stellar. In a subsequent match against Middlesbrough, he maintained a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw. Following that, he posted three more consecutive clean sheets, showcasing his growing confidence and skill between the posts.
J.J. Watt's lighthearted wager gained traction on social media after Trafford's heroics against Sunderland. Watt humorously acknowledged the bet, suggesting he might need to prepare for an early retirement. The banter continued as Trafford kept adding clean sheets to his record. After Burnley's recent victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Watt jested about hitting the gym and looking at homes in Cincinnati, where he resides and the city also home to the Bengals football team.
Despite Watt's quips, Trafford's performance is no laughing matter. He has played just under 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal since Watt's counteroffer became public knowledge. With a minimum of 12 league matches remaining on Burnley's schedule, Trafford's streak remains an exciting subplot to watch as the season progresses.
Burnley fans revel in their goalkeeper's success, but the overlap between Burnley and Bengals fans is likely minimal. Nonetheless, Trafford's achievements have captured attention across sports boundaries, further fueled by Watt's involvement.
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