Richard Lawrence

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Richard started playing in goal from the age of 6 and excelled in his role which quickly led him to represent Barnsley and Yorkshire Schools. Richard is now the currently academy goalkeeper coach for Chesterfield F.C and also Goalkeeper coach/First team coach for Shirebrook Town.

As a young player Richard played within high level teams which hosted an array of talented players who went on to play professional and represent England at youth level. Being in this type of environment only improved Richard’s ability in goal and went on to have time at Sheffield Wednesday. Due to a serious knee injury this cut Richard’s chances down of becoming a full time pro to a minimum. However this did not slow Richard down in forging a career in football and goalkeeping and went on to play semi professional for several clubs, Ossett Town, Brodsworth Welfare, Denaby Main, Worsbrough Bridge and Worksop Town.

Unfortunately injury did get the better of him but it was not his knee that finished him playing, his shoulder kept repeatedly dislocating. Fortunately Richard had the foresight to have already have started his coaching career and had already got his first coaching certificate under his belt at 19 years of age.

Richard was back at his first pro club and was coaching at Sheffield Wednesday working with Martin Hodge and Kevin Pressman and the Academy Goalkeepers. It was there when Richard got his first success story when Robert Poulter got called up for his England Schoolboy cap. Richard now works with Rob at Shirebrook Town. When Academy Director Clive Baker moved on to a new role, Richard decided it was time to find a new challenge and went to Barnsley F.C where Richard spent 10 years working with both the Academy and First Team. and worked many different keepers including Nick Colgan,Heinz Muller, Kyle Letheren, Scott Flinders and many more.

Richard has now had a move to Chesterfield F.C after being asked in by academy manager Mark Smith to deliver sessions to their academy goalkeepers which is where Richard works now as well as Shirebrook town who are a semi professional club.

Richard also had a two year spell as Worksop Town’s head goalkeeper coach and worked with former professional keepers Jon Stewart and Jon Kennedy. A day before his 39th birthday Richard came out of playing retirement to cover for Jon Kennedy due to Jon being injured and kept an 100% clean sheet record for the club, so Richard left the playing field on a high after a career hit hard with injuries.

Richard has now 20 years of experience of coaching goalkeepers at a professional level and is a fully F.A qualified coach with outfield players and more importantly goalkeepers.