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How are England’s best goalkeepers really built?

In this episode of the Catching Up Podcast, Paul sits down with Dave Watson, former Barnsley goalkeeper and elite goalkeeper coach, for a brilliant conversation about playing for the badge, losing his career early, rebuilding himself through coaching, and helping some of England’s top goalkeepers reach the highest level.

Dave reflects on his own journey from Barnsley to the Premier League, the injury that ended his playing career at just 23, and the mentor who helped him see a different future in the game. He also shares powerful insight into the psychology of goalkeeping, why so much of the position is “between the ears,” and how young keepers can build the courage, focus and resilience needed to perform under pressure.

The conversation goes deep into Dave’s time in elite environments, including his work with England, his experiences around the senior national team dressing room, and his role in the development of goalkeepers such as Joe Hart. From match day mentality to handling mistakes, reading the whole game, and learning how to stand out at goalkeeper camps, this episode is packed with practical advice for young keepers, parents and coaches.

Whether you’re a goalkeeper, goalkeeper coach, football parent or student of the game, Dave’s story is a reminder that talent matters, but mindset, coachability and love for the game matter just as much.

In this episode:

• Dave Watson’s goalkeeping idols and early influences
• What it means to play for the badge
• Why goalkeeping is harder than people realise
• The Premier League experience and the injury that changed everything
• How injury helped shape Dave as a coach
• The “gladiator mindset” every goalkeeper needs
• Joe Hart and the making of a number one
• Life inside the England senior dressing room
• How young keepers can stand out at goalkeeper camps
• Why parents need to stop shouting from the sidelines

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What happens when a goalkeeper spends ten years chasing the dream, gets released, walks away from football, and then finds his way back to the club where it all started?

In this episode of Catching Up, Paul Banks sits down with Sunderland AFC first-team goalkeeper coach Jonny Maddison for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the podcast.

Jonny's journey is unlike most. After being scouted by Sunderland after just five hours playing in goal, he spent a decade developing through the Academy of Light before earning professional opportunities with clubs including Leicester City, Yeovil Town, Darlington, Crawley Town and Port Vale. Along the way he trained alongside elite goalkeepers including Kasper Schmeichel and Mark Schwarzer and experienced football at the highest level.

But football doesn't always follow the script.

After leaving the professional game, Jonny found himself working outside football as an Amazon driver before slowly rebuilding a coaching career that eventually brought him back home to Sunderland. Today he works alongside world-renowned goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler and helps develop goalkeepers throughout the club's pathway while supporting the first-team environment.

During this episode Jonny shares insights into academy football, goalkeeper development, scouting, mindset, confidence, parental influence, modern goalkeeping, Jordan Pickford's development, Robin Roefs' rise, and why decision-making is becoming one of the most important skills in the modern game.

In this episode:

• Being scouted after only five hours in goal
• Why Shay Given was his childhood idol
• Life inside Sunderland's academy
• Training alongside Premier League winners
• Walking away from football
• Amazon driver to professional coach
• Returning to Sunderland
• Working with Neil Cutler
• Jordan Pickford's pathway
• Robin Roefs' development
• What scouts really look for
• Common goalkeeper coaching mistakes
• Advice for young goalkeepers and parents

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What does elite goalkeeper development actually look like inside the system shaping England’s next generation of top keepers?

In this EVOGK episode, Paul sits down with Sam Meek to explore a coaching journey that runs from academy football to the national pathway. Sam’s development began around senior football at Bolton Wanderers F.C., where early exposure to high-level goalkeepers and experienced staff helped shape how he understood standards, detail, and the daily habits behind elite performance.

His career then moved through important academy environments including Birmingham City F.C. and Aston Villa F.C., where he worked across goalkeeper development programmes, age-group progression, and long-term player planning before stepping into the England setup with The Football Association.

What makes this conversation valuable is how clearly Sam explains the changes in modern goalkeeper coaching. Today’s goalkeeper is no longer judged only on saves and handling. The role now includes decision-making under pressure, distribution, game understanding, communication, and the ability to operate almost like an extra outfield player.

Sam talks openly about why young goalkeepers are often overloaded too early, why confidence is fragile, and why one coaching method does not work for every player. He explains how coaches can easily damage belief without meaning to, why enjoyment still matters hugely in younger age groups, and why sessions must connect to the wider game rather than stay trapped in isolated goalkeeper work.

The episode also explores recruitment, player identity, coaching mistakes, pathway design, and what often separates goalkeepers who keep progressing from those who stall. Consistency, adaptability, and learning speed matter just as much as technical ability.

For young keepers, goalkeeper coaches, academy staff and parents, this is a proper inside look at what elite development really demands and where modern goalkeeping continues to evolve.

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