25th of June 2019 was the date of my last blog publication, a hiatus that was necessary with a view to take stock on progress on a number of committed projects concerning personal development and growth. So far on a funfundamental level, my first season as a goalkeeping coach for the Spartan South Midlands football league D1 semi-professional club Park View FC has been little more than a learning curve, as I got to grasp the amount of responsibility that is involved in coaching goalkeepers. An experience that is as always ones best teacher, prepares one by gathering information dissecting the data, getting observational feedback from the coaching staffs, relaying the compounded match and training analysis back to the goalkeepers pragmatically to produce improved performances. Going to task on this was easier said than done because the first obstacle I encountered was the very fact that we went through five goalkeepers ( including myself ) through the the course of 2018/2019 season, ending on a flat mid-table finish.

The problem is we conceded far too many goals than we chalked up, a grotesque amount of them attributed to a combination of poor defensive displays and goalkeeping. Although we recognised and addressed the issue, the response on the pitch was profoundly indifferent. Accountability is key and somehow we manages to evade that responsibility both from the coaches and players and that summed up last seasons campaign. Before the start of the current season, and emergency meetings was held with the coaching staff and executives to set out a holistic plan for the current campaign, having been notified from the League that 4 spots are up for promotion to the Premier League for 2019/2020 season. Our set goal was to compete for these 4 spots under the belief that we had the logistics and the required squad to achieve our objectives. Pre-season training and friendly games seem to galvanize that belief but 10 games into the start of the season, the statistics read..

• Won = 1
• Drawn = 3
• Lost = 6
• Goals For = 11
• Goals Against = 23

.. Leaving us at the bottom of the league table, making a mockery of our ambitions of finishing top 4. Miracles do happen ( I’m an avid believer) but it will take more than re-evaluation of the clubs intended goal. The psychology regarding the crux is recognition of the mental strength, awareness and consciousness required to overcome our current shortcomings, and for that to come into effect we’ve got to reassess our commitment to the cause individually first then collectively as a unit. As we are all aware an effective oiled machine will work until a spanner is thrown into its cogs, bringing the whole machine to a halt. The coaching staff and the players must take responsibility individually and collectively to ensure that willy-nilly goalsetting doesn’t become part of our ideology. The next 5 league games will determine how much positive changes has been made on the psychological and mental level, therefore I’ll adjourn this topic till then..

In other developments I’ve just launched Ultimate Keeper website, which at the moment is quite basic and hasn’t got much content but at the same token I’m very happy that the site is out there in the public domain. Also during my hiatus I underwent an eight week Soccer Agent/Intermediary course with SMWW Agency obtaining my certificate of award, making me an associate. The next step is registering with The FA that is currently ongoing ( subject to CRB certification ) and by the end of next month I will be certified as an authorized Agent/intermediary in conjunction with Ultimate Keeper. The chief aim here is for Ultimate Keeper to represent and promote the best young talented goalkeepers of the next generation and also provide representation of current professional and semi-professional goalkeepers. In addition, Ultimate Keeper will specialise in goalkeeper coach representation. Pieces of the Ultimate Keeper puzzle are beginning to take shape and create form and that’s all the information I’m able to share at the moment. Stay tuned for future updates..

To conclude, I finally got my hands on th copy of Tony Elliott A MODERN APPROACH TO GOALKEEPING narrated by Adam Woodage and I must sy this is a master piece for anyone venturing into the world of goalkeeping coaching. Tony Elliott’s extensive experience in the game gives us the opportunity to hone in on every aspect of goalkeeping coaching through a syllabus structure comprising of the Technical, Tactical, Physical, Psychological, Social and Emotional aspects of the game, plus much more! A book I highly recommend not just for goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches, but for anyone who feels inspired to give and serve in any way in their chosen field of expertise. Two weeks ago I was honoured to actually have a wonderful humbled telephone conversation with Mr Elliott. I promise to pay him a visit at Bristol some day in the near future.

And on that note.. I’m back in line!

You Are The Ultimate Keeper of Your Destiny.. ULTIMATE KEEPER