Swansea City legend Roger Freestone believes goalkeeper Dorus de Vries thoroughly deserves to write his name in the club record books after an "amazing season'' between the sticks.
De Vries equalled Freestone's own clean sheet record against Ipswich last week - a record that had lasted a decade - with his 22nd shut out of the Championship campaign.
Freestone's 22 clean sheets came during the 1999-2000 season when John Hollins led the Swans to the Third Division title after conceding just 30 goals from their 46 league games.
Their success was built on a solid, no-nonsense defence made up of Freestone in goal; Michael Howard and Steve Jones in the full-back berths; while Jason Smith and Matthew Bound were the rocks at the heart of the defence.
And as the Dutch stopper went into last Saturday's Welsh derby against Cardiff City looking to break the record with clean sheet No 23, Freestone believes his successor deserves all the plaudits.
Freestone, who made 566 league appearances for the Swans in a career that spanned 13 years, has watched his former club on a number of occasions this season as a football summariser for BBC Radio Wales.
And his assessment of the 29-year-old is full of unreserved praise: "I've been very impressed with him,'' declared Freestone.
"Swansea are very fortunate to have someone of his ability as their last line of defence.
"He's commanding, has safe hands, excellent distribution and agility. In fact, his all-round game is superb.
"What has impressed me the most though is the fact that he's prepared to catch the ball when most foreign goalkeepers prefer to punch everything.''
The first time Freestone watched Durus close up was at Peterborough earlier in the season when the Swans battled out a 2-2 draw.
"I know he didn't pick up a clean sheet that day, but he made three or four magnificent saves.
"I remember saying on the commentary that if Swansea got anything out of the game it would be down to their 'keeper, even though Lee Trundle bagged both goals.
"He's done remarkably well this season. I think he'll get another couple of clean sheets before the end of the campaign; guaranteeing that he won't have conceded in over 50 per cent of league games.
"That's remarkable, especially when you consider I broke the record in the old Third Division.
"It was a great season for me. In November we were bottom of the league and John Hollins had one game to save his job. We certainly had no aspirations of going up, but we went on an unbelievable run with 11 straight victories.
"By the end of the season I was celebrating breaking a club record, winning the title and earning my one and only Welsh cap against Brazil.
"But what you've got to remember is that Dorus has achieved his clean sheet record in the Championship, not the old Third Division. It's been much harder for him when you consider the quality he's been up against week in, week out.
"Thinking about it now, I'm glad he wasn't about when I was playing. I probably wouldn't have got a game,'' joked Freestone.
The Swansea legend is hoping to catch up with his fellow record breaker before the end of the season at the Liberty Stadium, a date de Vries is looking forward to as well.
"I know all about Roger,'' explained de Vries. "The fans have told me all about him. They tell me he's a legend.
"I've also heard a lot of stories from the staff about him. You won't be able to print any of them here though, because they've said he was a bit crazy - in a good way, of course.
"The amount of games he played for the club is amazing and I'm honoured to be mentioned in the same conversation as him.
"I'm looking forward to finally meeting him.''
Freestone has been to the Liberty on a number of occasions since the club left the lovely, ugly Vetch Field.
He made his first trip during the club's first season at the Liberty to see the Swans thump Bristol City 7-1.
"I came with a cap on and kept my head down so that nobody recognised me,'' he recalled.
But he couldn't return home to Newport without taking a trip back in time to his old Vetch Field stamping ground.
"Me and my mate climbed the gates at the Vetch Field to have a look around,'' he admitted. "I just had to have one last look, although the security guard wasn't impressed, even when I told him I used to play for the club.
"The grass may have been six foot tall, but as soon as I was in the memories came flooding back.
"I had some great times there; some sad ones too. But overall, the good times more than out-weighed the bad times.
"I've got to say the fans were fantastic. Even if I was going through a rough time, they would keep singing my name and I'll never forget that. I'll be eternally grateful to them and it was certainly a sad day when I eventually left the club.''
While de Vries is also worshipped by the Swansea City faithful, the other thing they have in common is their respect for the players in front of them.
"We had virtually the same back four when I broke the record,'' recalled Freestone. "They were magnificent and deserved the same recognition as me.''
It was a view shared by de Vries, who added: "I think the defensive strength has been the basis of our success so far.
"Everybody has been there when we've needed them. Sometimes it's the centre-backs, sometimes it's the keeper, but when we've needed certain players to be on form, they have been.
"That's why we've been able to keep so many clean sheets. It's a great feeling for us, because we know that when things get tough, we will stand up.
"That gives you something to build on — things will happen for you when you're like that, as we've seen this season.
"As a team and individually we have been class, so we deserve to be getting the recognition.
"But it won't mean anything unless we finish in the top six. It doesn't matter if you break records if it doesn't result in something at the end of the season.
"As footballers we play for one thing only — to win.''
It should make for an interesting meeting when the two top 'keepers finally get together to swap stories at the end of the season.
