Flekken visits Brentford Academy's Goalkeeper Day | OneFootball

Brentford’s Academy goalkeepers enjoyed an unforgettable day at Jersey Road, where they picked the brains of keepers from the first team and B team, watched Mark Flekken train, and gained invaluable insights into the pathway of a professional goalkeeper.

Led by Brentford Academy professional development phase goalkeeping coach Chris Ramsey, the day began with special access to the first-team goalkeepers' meeting, before being able to watch Bees goalkeeping coach Manu Sotelo put them through their paces in a training session.

The day was focused on helping the young keepers to see clear progression throughout the Academy to the first team, as well as meet their heroes and understand their journeys to the top of the game.

“It’s been a day for the whole goalkeepers' union, trying to make sure the younger boys can start making that association with the pros at the club and seeing that pathway,” explained Ramsey

“It’s great for them and for the parents as well to be brought into this little bubble that we have. Sometimes, as a young player, even if you make it into this environment, it can still feel like a world away from the professional game, and it’s just about being able to see these guys as humans and real, and that it’s not that far away.

“Mark was desperate to come down and share his experiences with these guys, and that’s because he’s felt this idea of a goalkeepers' union his whole life. It helps us all get the best out of each other.

“It can be a lonely position but we’re a team within a team. As coaches, we need that as well to grow. I wanted to make sure it was valuable for the younger boys, but for the older ones as well.

“The facilities at the academy now are amazing. We’re so lucky that the place has been developing so quickly, and you can see the intent from the club. On top of that, we have fantastic staff that are really helping this place become an organic place to grow and, fingers crossed, we develop a lot of talent over the next few years.

Sotelo echoed Ramsey’s thoughts on the importance of a visible pathway for the young Bees: “It was really good, just seeing the eyes of the young keepers.

"They were buzzing seeing Mark and the relationship and togetherness we have with all of the goalkeepers.

“Mark was spot on when he told the boys to 'dream big’. We are a new academy and these days are going to help these keepers to see that we have a pathway for them.

“Everyone has their own map for their own development, it’s brilliant for them and the coaches to be really close. The first team is not something that is isolated and it’s so important that we all work together.

The young Bees also had the opportunity to ask Flekken, Julian Eyestone, Reggie Rose and Marley Tavaziva questions about their ongoing journeys between the sticks, before finishing the day at Gtech Community Stadium to watch the Under-21s in action.

“It would’ve been massive for me. It’s always good to have conversations with people that you look up to,” said Flekken.

“It was great to hear their experiences, and I wanted to ask how they see certain things, how they would react in certain situations, and how they see the game - it’s very important.

“It’s down to these guys if they're going through tough times, having heard our experiences, that they know it’s normal and there are things they can hold on to. We want to give them tools to get out of a period like that and hopefully we can be a bit of help in the back of their minds.

“Keep working hard, keep trying to build your own version of yourself on the pitch and have fun: that's the biggest thing," was the Brentford's No.1's final message to the boys.

The first-team keepers then watched over the Academy's training session, which the PDP keepers helped coach, before giving away some signed gloves and enjoying the superb saves on show.

Parents and players alike were glowing with how the day had gone. One of the Under-13 goalkeepers detailed what they had taken from the session.

“It was a really good experience, I really enjoyed it. I’m 13, I’ve still got a lot to learn, so it’s really important to see the way we progress in the club,” beamed young keeper Billy.

“My favourite part was 'goalkeeper wars' at the end of watching the first-team train! For me, when I get a setback, I get annoyed and distracted, and it was great to learn that you’ve got to forget about it and get your head up”.

A mother of one of the keepers from the younger age groups emphasised how useful the day was for parents in helping to guide their children through the development process.

“Day in, day out, the academy experience can be quite pressurised, watching them have good and bad days. Having real time with Premier League players and having them be honest and open and share the same experiences in their journeys made it feel really real and warming.

“Today’s been about making memories. I cannot believe the opportunity they’ve been given. To watch them go over and walk out with the first-team keepers, watch them train, and then have that reversed, them watching our boys train. They’ve made memories for a lifetime."