nls goalkeeping academy
BEn BrADFORD
DIRECTOR OF GOALKEEPING
Ben Bradford is the head goalkeeper coach within the NLS goalkeeping academy.
A former young professional goalkeeper at West Ham United under the late Peter Braybrook and Tony Carr in the u18s and u21s respectively.
Ben also played under Steve Tilson and Ricky Duncan at Southend United in 2000, playing in the FA youth cup on numerous occasions.
Ben is a level 2 goalkeeper coach who is awaiting to start his UEFA B goalkeeper license.
Ben has experience in running his own successful goalkeeping academy working with goalkeepers from u7s to adults with numerous goalkeepers joining professional clubs.
Ben is currently the Cambridge United area scout for Essex and has overseen the transition of several players into Elite Academy Programmes
Danny clare
Academy GK Coach
Danny Clare holds an FA Level 2 coaching qualification and has been coaching at various levels and age groups for 30 years. He has worked as a GK coach for 16 years at Concord Rangers FC and Chelmsford City FC and for the last 10 years in the National League having a couple of his GK's called up for England C. Danny also worked for Charlton Athletic FC at youth level. Danny played for Watford making appearances in the FA Youth Cup and trained with the 1st team going on to play semi-pro at Canvey, Concord, Maldon and Chelmsford. NLS GK Academy are delighted to have secured Danny's services and part of the expanding team.
Ryan bennett
Ryan Bennett has been coaching for a few years and has his FA Level 1 Goalkeeper and Outfield. Ryan also has his FA Level 7
referee badge. Ryan currently studies football coaching and management at UCFB at Wembley, where he has just completed his first year.
He will be the understudy goalkeeper coach for Ben Bradford within the NLS Goalkeeper Academy.
Regional Lead Development Foundation
& Youth Development Phase
JON ECKETT
Regional Head, Foundation & Youth Development Phase GK Academy Manager
Jon Eckett has recently joined the goalkeeper coaching staff at NLS. Jon’s worked as a goalkeeper coach for over 24 years at Catholic United Youth and 15 years as head coach of his own goalkeeping school, Response Goalkeeping.
In his 27 years playing, Jon’s played at West Ham youth, along with a host of semi-pro clubs including: Witham Town, Southend Manor, Heybridge Swifts and Great Wakering Rovers, and coached by several ex-professional goalkeepers including Ray Potter, Malcolm Webster and Les Sealey.
While being a FA Level 1 Goalkeeper coach, Jon has coached through all age groups, seeing many of his goalkeepers work their way through the ranks at Southend United and a host of semi-pro standard clubs.
Jon’s primary job as a school teacher also enables him to understand the mentality of youth players, knowing how to teach as well as coach and talk to them on a suitable level.
ROB budd
Rob has been coaching for 22 years. He Has his FA Level 2 coaching badge. He has coached with West Ham Goalkeeper coaches Paul Tighe and Jerome John at the WHUFC training ground.
Has also spent many years running youth football teams including running a women's team.
Rob started out in senior football at Southend United in the u19s playing in the FA Youth Cup and making a handful of appearances. He then went on to semi-professional outfit Concord Rangers where he had for 4 seasons before moving playing for various other semi-pro clubs in his playing career as no.1
Regional Head, Foundation & Youth Development Phase GK Academy Manager
Charlie eagles
Academy GK Coach
Charlie Arnold
Academy GK Coach