August 2017 – Goalkeeper Development Scheme

April 19, 2026

GDS Latest News

[ March 3, 2026 ] Goalkeeper of the Month February 2026: Emi Charlemont Playing Fields
[ February 27, 2026 ] Goalkeeper of the Month January 2026: Thirsty Charlemont Playing Fields
[ January 16, 2026 ] Goalkeeper of the Month November/December 2025: Confused Charlemont Playing Fields
[ November 6, 2025 ] Goalkeeper of the Month October 2025: Zammo Charlemont Playing Fields
[ October 16, 2025 ] Goalkeeper of the Month September 2025: Flakey Charlemont Playing Fields

GDS Autumn Update

August 31, 2017 0

Welcome back everyone we hope you have all had a great summer break and are refreshed and ready to start training again. We start back at Ellowes Hall with no more holiday breaks from tomorrow […]

Training Returns on Friday at Ellowes

August 10, 2017 0

For those who are not sunning themselves somewhere nice and hot, training is back on for the below dates before we have another mini break. Due to holidays we are also giving everybody another month […]

Offering a wealth of coaching experience of over 20 years at professional clubs Walsall FC and Birmingham City and also at grass roots level, UEFA B Licenced Dave Woodhall and his team offer a professional, structured coaching programme to improve young players and coaches alike.
We also have strong links with local professional football clubs and have passed many young keepers on over the last few years. GDS offer a three tier coaching system developing young players together with coach education programme for club coaches and parents who wish to help develop their own children in the specific art of goalkeeping.

Wendy - Parent

My boy was so excited about this medal....I never ever have to wake him up to go to GDS and I never see the kids

Wendy - Parent

My boy was so excited about this medal....I never ever have to wake him up to go to GDS and I never see the kids without a smile on their faces through the sessions

Mike Chapman - GDS Coach & Parent

Matt has been training with GDS for over three years now and has sincerely loved every minute. He has made tremendous progress and his goalkeeping

Mike Chapman - GDS Coach & Parent

Matt has been training with GDS for over three years now and has sincerely loved every minute. He has made tremendous progress and his goalkeeping career has gone from strength to strength and his skills are regularly noticed - which is solely down to the excellent GDS training! Whenever Matt is asked about how he has developed his skills he is proud to say that he is a member of the GDS family!

Tom Wintle - Santiago Colts FC Coach

Extremely valuable learning experience, I have learnt not only the key skills of coaching but also more advanced techniques.

This course was very enjoyable delivered

Tom Wintle - Santiago Colts FC Coach

Extremely valuable learning experience, I have learnt not only the key skills of coaching but also more advanced techniques.

This course was very enjoyable delivered to an exceptional standard of teaching.

Umer Hamid - GDS Keeper age 17

During the 2 and a half years of attending this scheme, I have attained a wealth of knowledge and technique which has not only improved

Umer Hamid - GDS Keeper age 17

During the 2 and a half years of attending this scheme, I have attained a wealth of knowledge and technique which has not only improved my goalkeeping but also has given me the confidence I need, to play "in between the sticks". Everybody at GDS have been amazing, and the times I have had here have exceeded all my expectations. My only regret is that I didn't come to GDS sooner!

Sam Bartolo - Malta U21 National Goalkeeper

Working with Dave for a week was a brilliant experience. He managed to cover such a large amount of work in such a little time

Sam Bartolo - Malta U21 National Goalkeeper

Working with Dave for a week was a brilliant experience. He managed to cover such a large amount of work in such a little time focusing on the most important aspects of goalkeeping.

Dave makes learning fun and I have received very positive feedback from all of our Keepers.

Dave Woodhall is an excellent coach and above all a top man to be around.

Russell Sang - Inter Volante FC Coach

Dave Woodhall and his team are a pleasure to work with, with excellent clarity on coaching sessions and coaching style.

Mrs Chambers - Parent

On Saturday we attended our first session with GDS, initially my son was worried he didn't know anyone there. He needn't have worried because by

Mrs Chambers - Parent

On Saturday we attended our first session with GDS, initially my son was worried he didn't know anyone there. He needn't have worried because by the end of the session he felt as if he had been coming weeks, it was brilliant, there is anything for any keeper at any age and any ability. I would recommend this session to any parent of any young goalkeeper, from my point of view:

The session was extremely good value for money
My son was able to train with very good keepers of his own age and older so he could see what good is and what to aspire to.
It was hard work, fun and very professional
There was a unique camaraderie between players and coaches
Also I a a lot about goalkeeping myself just watching from the side of the pitch
The coaches were very professional and structured the session well

Livi - GDS Keeper age 11

I joined GDS in November 2015. It’s not like any other Goalkeeper training I’ve been to before. The drills that we do make you work

Livi - GDS Keeper age 11

I joined GDS in November 2015. It’s not like any other Goalkeeper training I’ve been to before. The drills that we do make you work hard to improve on different areas of goalkeeping and each session is never the same.

There are not just drills though what I enjoy about GDS is that we do fun games to improve our skills too such as Goalie Wars and Crossfire. There are also matches at the end of training at some centres which is so much fun.

I enjoy going to all of the different centres and meeting new people at each one.
I also love to watch the Senior Goalkeepers doing their demos as they are brilliant Goalkeepers and I can watch and learn from them. I also love helping the younger kids with drills when I have the opportunity.

So far I think I like the Friday night Centre the most - I really look forward to it every week.

All of Dave’s drills have improved me so much that it made me good enough to join an Academy which I am really pleased about. I am looking forward to improving my skills even more with GDS.

Livi age 11

Cindy - Parent

Roof has been with Gds a little over a year now and there has been a huge improvement in the way he plays. Everybody comments

Cindy - Parent

Roof has been with Gds a little over a year now and there has been a huge improvement in the way he plays. Everybody comments on how he is going from strength to strength and that is down to the hard work and dedication from the coaches at GDS. He loves every minute of training. We would highly recommend GDS to any goalkeeper!

Wendy Joberns - Parent

Lars has learnt so much in the few weeks he has been coming. He was awarded player of the month today and will be captain

Wendy Joberns - Parent

Lars has learnt so much in the few weeks he has been coming. He was awarded player of the month today and will be captain for March. The parents said they can't believe how much he has grown in such a short space of time!!

Thank you GDS!!! Finger crossed he keeps the focus on learning , Wendy

Mr Gooner (Parent)

I just want to thanks Dave and his team of coaches at GDS for helping my son Charlie over the last month or so, the

Mr Gooner (Parent)

I just want to thanks Dave and his team of coaches at GDS for helping my son Charlie over the last month or so, the improvement in his game has been massive and he has now been chosen to play for his school team in goal.

Thank you for your hard work with him, from a proud dad

Ali

Knock knock has been at GDS a year and in terms of his his technical ability GDS have brought him up leaps and bounds, thanks

Ali

Knock knock has been at GDS a year and in terms of his his technical ability GDS have brought him up leaps and bounds, thanks to their Academy style training syllabus.
But more than that, they offer a positive and conducive environment where the kids develop their social and interaction skills. Knock knock used to be shy, now you can’t shut him up.

Thank you to all the coaching staff. If anyone is thinking about joining the training. We’ll it’s a no brainier “you need to sign up”.

Mick Hughes - Parent & Coach

“I found GDS from a family friend who worked with Dave and he advised me to go along and take my son Blaine (aka magic)

Mick Hughes - Parent & Coach

“I found GDS from a family friend who worked with Dave and he advised me to go along and take my son Blaine (aka magic) along with me as he was a goalkeeper for a junior team which I was managing at the time. After the first 30 minutes it became apparent that this was no normal training session. The level of training and guidance I witnessed was staggering. After taking my son week after week I was asked to join the coaching team which I accepted and haven’t looked back since. I have seen many young keepers start and then progress into well rounded and quality numbers 1″s which any team would be proud to have looked after their goal. As for GDS it isn’t all about the high level training given but we also teach them life skills and discipline as we have attended many events with our keepers and they are a credit to us.

My background has been in junior football as manager/assistant/committee board member. I am FA qualified and enhanced CRB. My background in teaching helps me to communicate with the kids and help them reach their full potential.

Dave Woodhall is in my eyes is one in a million as a trainer/coach/friend and am pleased to call him a close friend.”

Mrs Pring - Parent

Joe was absolutely over the moon with his Goalkeeper of the month trophy. He has told everyone he has met over the weekend and it's

Mrs Pring - Parent

Joe was absolutely over the moon with his Goalkeeper of the month trophy. He has told everyone he has met over the weekend and it's proudly displayed on the window sill. He has never been so pleased about anything in his life.

It's the first time in his life he has actually deserved anything and not just been given it.

Mike Chapman

Matt has been training with GDS for over three years now and has sincerely loved every minute. He has made tremendous progress and his goalkeeping

Mike Chapman

Matt has been training with GDS for over three years now and has sincerely loved every minute. He has made tremendous progress and his goalkeeping career has gone from strength to strength and his skills are regularly noticed - which is solely down to the excellent GDS training! Whenever Matt is asked about how he has developed his skills he is proud to say that he is a member of the GDS family!

Worrier (parent)

We was recommended GDS via my sons football team as their under 11s coach also has their goalkeeper attending GDS. My son is new to

Worrier (parent)

We was recommended GDS via my sons football team as their under 11s coach also has their goalkeeper attending GDS. My son is new to goalkeeping and he has benefitted massively from attending sessions at GDS, we have seen such a difference since he has started at GDS, he really enjoys it and we plan to keep attending many more courses with GDS, excellent coaches, excellent sessions and a real good experience for young goalkeepers.

Rob Lloyd - Parent & GDS Coach

As a qualified football coach for just over twenty years and having worked in various places coaching I was keen to see the GDS sessions

Rob Lloyd - Parent & GDS Coach

As a qualified football coach for just over twenty years and having worked in various places coaching I was keen to see the GDS sessions after a recommendation from a friend.

My lad who has just turned 10 has only recently got into football and has taken an interest in goalkeeping. He's not played for a team or even the school.

After reading up about the 'academy quality coaching' I admit I was a little apprehensive as my lad had never done any goalkeeper coaching before. My apprehension was gone within a few minutes as my lad smiled his way through the goalkeeper specific warm up.

I watched with a keen interest as each and every youngster there had a nickname to identify them, including my lad within minutes.

Senior keepers demonstrated techniques with clear, concise direction from head keeper coach Dave. Whilst the session undoubtedly moved along at pace to encourage great tempo those who maybe weren't so experienced (like my lad) had the opportunity of extra help from a team of coaches making the coach to keeper ratio learning much easier.

The smile on my lads face at the end was superb, as it was at the end of the 10 week course when he won most improved goalkeeper. So much so we'll be looking for a club for him for next season.

The sessions are great for boys and girls of all abilities, they're engaging, fast paced and fun!

After only two weeks of watching Dave also asked me to help out with the sessions knowing of my coaching background and it's been great to become part of the very welcoming GDS family.

Alex Molloy - Academy Goalkeeper Coach

Having participated in sessions in the Goalkeeper Development Scheme from a young age I can say with confidence that the coaching I received provided me

Alex Molloy - Academy Goalkeeper Coach

Having participated in sessions in the Goalkeeper Development Scheme from a young age I can say with confidence that the coaching I received provided me with the best possible platform to succeed as a Goalkeeper and now as a Goalkeeper coach.

The GDS covers all aspects of Goalkeeping and provides the GK with important details, opportunities to practice and most

Importantly all in a fun and infectiously enthusiastic environment.

As a GK Coach working in a Midlands based Academy I have been able to rely on the Goalkeeper Development Scheme to produce some of the best Goalkeeping talent on a local level that we now work with at Academy level.

I would highly recommend Goalkeepers of any age or ability to take a look at the Goalkeeper Development Scheme so they can take their skills to the next level.

Alex Molloy

Academy Goalkeeper Coach

FA coach ST GEORGE'S PARK

Copyright GDS 2016