Brandon joined the IHM Football Academy coaching team at Ellesmere College as lead coach during the 2022/2023 season, bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience in the game.
Brandon is currently goal keeper for semi-professional club, Telford United. Brandon is enjoying a great career in the game. As a keen young football player, Brandon played local and school football. By age 16 his talent was had been spotted by professional side Charlton Athletic. He was then offered an apprenticeship with the club and played youth team football for two seasons. Unfortunately, at the end of the apprenticeship Brandon wasn’t offered a professional contract by Charlton. However, he didn’t let this disappointment spoil his passion for the game and so he entered the English non-league system.
Over his time in the non-league system Brandon gained experience with a number of clubs and was successful in securing a contract with Telford United for the 2023/2024 season.
Brandon’s coaching journey started by assisting players in the clubs he was playing with. He soon realised that he loved the coaching aspect of the game and soon took his professional coaching qualifications for both goalkeepers and outfield players. Joining the IHM coaching team meant that Brandon could expand his coaching experience whilst continuing to develop his playing career. So, he was delighted to accept the lead coach role at the academy for the coming season at Ellesmere College.
Having moved through the semi professional and non-league systems Brandon is able to advise and guide the young international players who attend the programmes. Whilst all our young student players dream of reaching the Premier League someday, for many their starting point may be the non-league system. Something that Brandon is uniquely capable of advising them on. The non-league system offers a valid pathway to the professional game. Indeed, world class players such as Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy both started their playing careers in the lower leagues. And both went on to play at the highest level in the Premier League as well as represent their country in the England national team.
The 2023/2024 season at Ellesmere College is set to be the biggest yet, with the highest number of players attending since the formation of the programme. This will mean that there will also now be highest level competition amongst the players for a place in the terams, following on from their success last season.
If you’d like to join the IHM Football Academy squad at Ellesmere College, applications are now welcomed for those wishing to enrol in January or September 2024.
For more information, please contact us now to discuss your options. If you are already a pupil at Ellesmere College or are joining the college this coming term, yet haven’t enrolled into the academy, places are still available so contact us now to secure your place.
