ABOUT GKACADEMY
Our Aim
It is been noted at many levels that England are always been lacking in
goalkeepers coming through and after seeing the lack of goalkeeper
coaching availble to young upcoming goalkeepers I decided it was time
to help out as joining in with outfielders drills or standing in goal while
shots are drilled at you can only teach you so much for matchdays.
Nathan Nicholls
I started out goalkeeping at Clenchwarton Boys U14-16 then going on
to play for Kings Lynn U18's.
To help introduce myself into adult football i went to Downham Town FC
before moving to Fakenham Town FC where i finished playing U18
football and moving up to reserves and first team.
I worked with the likes of Gary Roper and Steve Lewis learning the
art of goalkeeping which helped my game and get selected for the Norfolk U18's squad.
I eventually moved back to Downham Town FC where i played for 8 seasons before deciding to focus into coaching and took my
goalkeeper level 1 and coaching level 1.
I was then approached by Soham Town Rangers, where I spent 4 seasons as assisant manager/coach to the U18's side. I also passed my FA goalkeeper level 2 and coaching level 2 during my time there.
In 2012 during my time at Soham I felt it was time to try and introduce more ways of helping goalkeepers train and learn by starting up gkacademy.
I joined Downham Town FC in 2014 to become the clubs goalkeeper coach for one season before deciding to concentrate all my time to gkacademy.
Since then i have worked at many youth clubs around the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire area and now run weekly sessions at Downham Market for all ages.
Always looking to improve and add new experiences for young goalkeepers I started up my own Keeper Wars Tournament in 2016 with 40 keepers attending making the day a big success followed by 64 attending the next year.
In 2017 I spent 1 season as first team goalkeeper coach at Kings Lynn Town FC before leaving and now focus on the youth coaching with our own set up.
Luke Pearson
Luke joined the coaching team in Summer 2018 and coaches our oldest group (U13-U16)
He came through the youth teams at Downham Town FC going on to feature for the first team at just aged 17 before moving to King's Lynn Town FC in 2014. A regular in the reserve side where he helped win the Thurlow Nunn League Cup. Featured for first team on numerous occasions before spells at Fakenham Town and Norwich United. Currently plays for Wisbech Town.
Qualifications
FA Level 1
First Aid Trained
CRB Checked
Ellie Prentice
Ellie attended our weekly sessions before joining the coaching team in 2019.
Coaches the middle group (U10-U13)
Played for Hungate Rovers Youth while also training with Peterborough United Ladies. She then made the move to King's Lynn Town Ladies FC in 2018 featuring a few times before making the breakthrough in 2019/20 becoming first team goalkeeper. Moved to Wroxham Ladies in 2020.
Currently at Downham 6th Form learning sports and also is a fully qualified referee.
Qualifications
Fully qualified referee
First Aid Trained
CRB Checked
Ryan Brown
Ryan joined Gkacademy in the summer of 2016 gaining experience coaching the young keepers. Now a regular coach at the Downham Market Weekly Sessions and while he also provides 1-2-1 sessions.
Came through Downham Town Youth FC setup and finished his U16 days winning the league and only conceding 9 goals. Featured for Downham Town U18 while studying Sports at The College of West Anglia.
Qualifications
FA Level 1 Goalkeeper Certificate
First Aid Trained
CRB Checked