Behind the Pads: Hampshire’s Goalkeepers Step Up
Specialist training, strong commitment, and a clear pathway helping Hampshire’s goalkeepers develop beyond the squad environment.
TL;DR:
- Specialist GK programme supports development beyond squad sessions
- Up to 30 goalkeepers attended each of the 2026 sessions
- Focus on technical skills and game-based scenarios
- Open to both AC keepers and selected DC players
- Strong commitment from players and coaches — more to come next season
Every season, the Hampshire Player Pathway selects 2–3 goalkeepers for each of its county squads during the AC assessments. These keepers go on to train and compete with their squads throughout the cycle.
However, by their very nature, squad sessions are focused on team play and match preparation. This leaves limited time for the kind of detailed, position-specific work that goalkeepers need to truly develop.
To address this, Hampshire introduced a specialist AC Goalkeeper Training Programme, led by Goalkeeper Head Coach Dean “Hems” Davis. The aim is simple: provide dedicated, high-quality goalkeeper coaching to support development at a higher level.
Importantly, the programme is not limited to selected AC keepers. Each year, a number of promising goalkeepers who narrowly miss out on selection are also invited to take part — ensuring they continue to progress within the pathway.
And with specialist goalkeeper coaching often hard to access, the impact of these sessions is significant.
A Strong 2026 Programme
The final session of the 2026 programme took place on Thursday 16th April at Wellington Sports Ground, Eastleigh, bringing to a close a series of four sessions across the season.
Attendance has been excellent throughout, with up to 30 goalkeepers per session, combining both AC squad keepers and invited Development Centre players.
Across the programme, sessions covered a wide range of core and advanced skills, including:
- Kicking and clearing techniques
- Diving and ground work
- Multi-save scenarios
- Hand saves
- Dealing with unpredictable, bobbling balls
A key feature of the sessions has been the inclusion of game-based goalkeeper exercises, designed to replicate real match situations. These focused on:
- Decision making
- Positioning
- Handling repeated pressure situations
Looking Ahead
The continued success of the AC Goalkeeper Training Programme highlights the importance of specialist coaching within the pathway.
With another strong year completed, Hampshire is already looking forward to building on this momentum and continuing to support the next generation of goalkeepers.
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