Academy Goalkeeper Coach

Organisation: Reading Football Club
Salary: £ Competitive
Location: Bearwood Park Training Ground, Reading RG41 5DB; various locations
Contract type
Closing date: 11 February 2026
Job Description: We are looking for a Goalkeeper Coach to join our Academy coaching team. You will be responsible for supporting football and holistic development of the goalkeepers across the academy goalkeeper development program particularly across the U9-U14 age band, improving the individual goalkeepers within the U9-U14 squads whilst supporting and monitoring the players during both training and games, supporting the transition of goalkeepers into the late youth development phase, and supporting the head of goalkeeping and other academy staff in the daily operating of the academy goalkeeper program including goalkeeper recruitment events. You will also assist in how we support our Professional Development Phase Goalkeepers with game and training analysis and assist in how we support our Professional Development Phase goalkeepers through loan game observations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
To support the Academy goalkeeping coaching staff with a view to producing a world-class support system for all Academy goalkeepers.
To arrange GK player development meetings and attend recruitment meetings to ensure there is MDT discussion weekly on progression of trialists where appropriate and to ensure the relevant development reports are completed and stored correctly during trial period.
To ensure a thorough working knowledge of the content and functions of the Academy Performance Plan.
To follow and implement the Academy Philosophy whilst contributing to its evolution
To work as part of a multidisciplinary support team involving, but not restricted to, performance analysts, sports scientists, physiotherapists, psychologists, operational and administrative staff.
To ensure player welfare is always the primary consideration in all Academy activities.
To maintain a current and up to date status with all work and communication involving the Performance Management Application (including coaching sessions, game details and all aspects of 8 Point Learning Plans).
To ensure a 3x7’s report is completed for each trialist for each game and submitted to the Academy Recruitment Coordinator
There is an expectation that you will undertake adhoc work on an exceptional basis or provide relevant cover for other team tasks
To adopt a proactive approach in working alongside the multidisciplinary support team in order to provide optimal playing opportunities through additional fixtures, player workshops or training sessions as required.
To ensure all facilities are left in a clean and tidy state following use.
To attend all staff meetings (unless exceptional circumstances apply).
To ensure all EPPP requirements are met and reviewed
To carry out any other tasks as directed by your line manager

PERSON SPECIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS: Essential - UEFA B License; UEFA B Goalkeeping License; FA Youth Award (modules 1 - 3); Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF) qualification; FA Safeguarding Children qualification. Desirable - member of the FA Licensed Coaches Club

EXPERIENCE: Essential - Experience within elite sport environment; Experience working with children across multiple age brackets; Experience working with elite goalkeepers; Experience within EPPP Academy Environment; Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team

SKILLS: Essential - Able to give effective feedback

ATTITUDE: Essential - To be resilient in difficult situations; Proactive & positive attitude
How to apply: To see the job description, person specification, and details of how to apply, please follow the link below https://readingfc.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=eed5f233-7814-4ebc-b85c-fcd721cfd028