Every time Andrew Redmayne watched Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny play, he couldn't help but wonder what could have been.

It was during a NSW Institute of Sport tour of Europe in 2005 that the then 16-year-old shot stopper impressed one of the biggest clubs in the world. After keeping a clean sheet in the Institute's shock win over Arsenal's youth team, the Gunners extended an offer for Redmayne to return to the club on an official trial.

One that got away: Andrew Redmayne came so close to a dream contract with Arsenal. Credit:Nic Walker

"It was the last year at Highbury so there was a bit of a buzz around. It was just fantastic being among the first team and the facilities," he said.

On the other side of the pitch from the youth team were first-team goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, while in the corner of his eye, glimpses of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Sol Campbell flashed from the opposite field. Redmayne didn't become star-struck and continued to impress.