Andy Woodman, (Woody) thank you talking exclusively to Sells Goalkeeping Academy.

 

 

1. You started your career with Crystal Palace back in 1989, before moving onto several clubs including Exeter-Northampton-Southend-Brentford-Oxford to name a few. You are now currently the goalkeeping Coach at Charlton Fc. Can you tell SGA about how you where first spotted and how football has changed from when you first began playing to the modern day footballer today. 

 

I was 9 years old and playing for my school team and our goalkeeper didn’t turn up for the game so I went in goals and had a great and it just so happened that there was a scout at the match.  I went on to represent South London and then Central London counties.

 

The game and especially training has changed dramatically over the years, its far more professional these days especially when it comes to goalkeeper training.  It used to be that one of the outfield coaches would take the goalkeeper to one side and just blast balls at them.  Now almost all clubs have a full-time goalkeeper coach.  It’s a specialised position so its very important that goalkeepers, especially young ones, are coached by goalkeeper coaches that are professional and have played in goals.  

 

Too often I see goalkeeper coaches that have never actually played in goals coaching young kids.  Its vitally important that a goalkeeper coach has actually played in goals as they are then able to relate the coaching techniques to their own experiences in goal.  This is where SGA is really going to shine through – coaching sessions being run by current and ex-professional goalkeepers.

 

2. When you first started out as a young keeper, was there any specific goalkeeping coaching schools that you used to go too. How was the goalkeeper coaching then, to how it is now.

 

It’s a million miles away from where it used to be.  Goalkeeper coaching or should I say training used to just be about getting hundreds of shots and crosses in a training sessions.

 

These days its all about the correct techniques and keepers have to be more like an outfield player in terms of their skills with the ball at their feet.  Goalkeeper sessions are still about shots and crosses but they’re also about distribution, communication, the psychological game and most importantly sessions are now about quality of work rather than quantity.   Working on quality is very important when developing young keepers.

 

 

3. You are now goalkeeper coach at Charlton FC, having previously worked at West Ham with Alan Pardew, as well as Rushden and Diamonds. Now you are working on the coaching side of football, do you miss playing. 

 

Yes of course I do but I’m 39 now and I know that my body cant recover as well as it used to.  I’m actually still a registered player with Charlton and if the time ever came and I needed to play I’m pretty confident that I would be able to put in a good performance.  A lot of goalkeeping is about confidence and self-belief.

 

But if I’m being completely honest I get my rewards now by seeing goalkeepers develop, learning their profession and going on to play at the highest level possible.  Robbie Elliot was Charltons 3rd choice keeper and he looked like he was going out of the game but I worked on his game a lot with him and he is now our number one keeper.  Its things like this I find very rewarding.

 

4. Robbie Elliot has just come back from injury, and as a young keeper he is showing all the signs of becoming a top flight professional. Can you tell us about Robbie?

 

Robbie has worked very hard to become our number one.  He has just come back from his injury and he played on the weekend.

 

He has huge potential and I believe it’s only a matter of time before the big clubs come knocking on our door.

 

If he keeps working hard he could or should become a great goalkeeper in the Premier League.  He has great distribution and comes for lots of crosses even though he is still young.  He is probably the bravest keeper I’ve ever worked with.

 

5. Woody, you have business interests outside football. More footballers these days are getting involved in business. Can you tell us what they are and how you have gone about setting it up?

 

I started my business, No1 Promotions UK, 11 years ago.  It originally started as a soccer school, this then developed into providing food and drinks at kids birthday parties as part of the soccer schools.  The business is now very different and we are now a corporate hospitality business providing corporate days out at several UK venues.  Our flagship event is the Epsom Derby where we provide hospitality for around 600 people.

 

To find out more about No1 Promotions visit www.no1promotions.com

 

6. You are good friends with SGA high profile endorsee Robert Green. He had a tough start to the season, but looks like he and West Ham are now coming through it. How is he?

 

I speak to him about 2 or 3 times per week and I spoke to him after the match last Saturday.  

Everyone is aware of the mistake at the World Cup but Rob is probably the most mentally strong goalkeeper I know, in fact no one is more mentally strong.  Rob will come through this and he has already shown that he has started to put it behind him.  Rob is and always will be one of the best keepers around.

 

7.  Woody can you tell us a little bit about yourself. 

 

i. What type of music do you like.

My 13 year old son has got me into R&B and Funky House but I saw Alicia Keyes in concert at the O2 and she is pretty good as well.

 

ii. What type of food is your favourite.

Homemade spaghetti bolognese.

 

iii. Favourite Film

Good Fellows.

 

 

iv. Career Funny moment, either playing a game or at training.

Recently whilst doing the pre-match warm-up I missed the goal and the ball went into the crowd and I hit a lady in the face.  I was devastated and went and spoke to her and sent her some flowers.  But then two weeks later same thing, I missed the goal and hit another lady in the face – turns out it was the same lady.  I think she must want a game in goals for Charlton.

 

v. Career Highlight.

Saving a penalty for Northampton against Grimsby at Wembley in the Play-Off Final.

 

vi. Career Low Point

Losing the same Play-Off Final.

 

7. Woody you are looking at getting involved in SGA. This is great news, seeing so many professional keepers and coaches wanting to be working with grass roots keepers. You obviously see the benefits that SGA is bringing to football.

 

Andy Marshall is a model professional and I know that he will run SGA with the utmost professionalism.  It’s a fantastic concept, its not gimmicky!  Its being run by professional and ex-professional goalkeepers and coaches.

 

8. We recently interviewed Theo Paphitis from the Dragons Den. We asked Theo if he would attend one of our centres for a goalkeeping session. He has accepted our invite. Would you also attend, as a keeper and not a coach-so you could be put through paces by the SGA Team.  

 

I will happily attend a session and have the coaches but me through my paces.  On one condition though………I am provided with a masseur the next day.

 

 

Woody, thank you for talking exclusively to SGA. We will see you soon attending our academies.