Jayson Leutwiler flying into action for Town
Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler is known for his agility and lightening quick reactions, but he's also the man to call on in battle.
The giant Swiss shot-stopper paid a visit to RAF Shawbury yesterday to meet service personnel and explore a rescue helicopter.
He also had a go on an RAF training simulator which saw him shooting a gun from a moving helicopter as he tried to stop enemies from stealing cargo.
But it was nothing new for the 25-year-old who, in the past, has completed national service back in Switzerland.
And the keeper feels that military background has helped him become a success at Greenhous Meadow.
"Visiting RAF Shawbury was great for me – I really enjoyed it," Leutwiler said.
"I was in the Swiss army and I learnt a lot with them. You learn how to be very disciplined which I think you have to be if you want to be a professional.
"It also taught me how lucky I am. Life can be very hard and I know I'm very fortunate to be a footballer and to be playing in England for Shrewsbury.
"But visiting Shawbury was great. I got to sit in a helicopter and go on a simulator where you have to anticipate where to shoot – that's great training for me because I am always anticipating where strikers are going to shoot."
Town's heroics on Tuesday night saw them knock out West Midlands rivals Walsall in the FA Cup.
But it is back to league action this weekend when they travel to take on an in-form Exeter City side.
The Grecians failed to win in their opening nine games of the season but are currently 12th in the table after going on a run of 10 games unbeaten in League Two.
And Leutwiler insisted all the players are now fully focused on going to St James park and picking up three points.
"What we did against Walsall is gone now, all we are thinking about is Exeter," he said.
"There is absolutely no point in looking back. All our concentration is now on this game. The Walsall match gives us confidence and we again showed our quality.
"But we know we have to concentrate 100 per cent on each game. Exeter is a new challenge.
"They will line-up in a different shape and use different tactics. We need to find a way to win – what happened against Walsall now doesn't matter."
Leutwiler came through the ranks at Swiss giants FC Basel – a team used to winning the Swiss Super League.
While back in his homeland he also enjoyed a loan spell at Yverdon-Sport where he won promotion.
And Leutwiler, who represented Switzerland at under-20 level, feels he knows what it takes to be part of a winning team.
"I have won promotion before in Switzerland and I was also part of a Basel squad that won the league, but I didn't actually play so it wasn't quiet the same for me,2 he said.
"But I know what it takes to be successful and I can see we have that here. We are doing everything we can to ensure we go up and I believe we will."
The goalkeeper also had special praise for captain Liam Lawrence, who he believes has a positive impact on everyone in the squad.
He added: "Liam is a very good captain and it's great for us that he has all that experience. He is very important to this team on and off the pitch. We learn a lot from him."
