Bertie’s Football Bio:

It’s fair to say I was born into a football family, I was born into family of 6 former professional football players,notably my dad and role model, Alan Kelly Jr, who played as a Goalkeeper for Preston North End, Sheffield United & Republic of Ireland over 450 times! But he inspired me for his coaching career, where he coached Jordan Pickford at Preston North End and Everton!

With that being said my football “career” started at 6 years old playing outfield… my GK career started when there was injury, the decision was made for me to go in net because “he’s kells son, he’ll do the job”. I never looked back from there.

I always played football for the enjoyment and this helped me improve throughout years which lead to me training with Preston North End FC before getting a plague of injuries. 3 injury’s and the Covid years later, I found my self back in net playing for my school senior team, where we went unbeaten in our first year and having a successful 2nd season, beating Scotland’s No1 Ranked School football team. During these seasons I took the goalkeepers and my self for daily training, this is where I started to find a love for coaching.

Bertie’s coaching bio:

In year13 my passion for coaching continued to grow, which lead to me to intern with Preston North End’s U18’s/19’s Scholarship Program during my school holidays, here I fell in love with the professional routine of football, the early morning training and the dressing room atmosphere is something that felt natural to me. During this I got a text from Asmir Begovic, asking me to join his AB1 Camps, this is where I met Graeme, we stayed in contact after the camps, and when ELGA was formed, I was asked to come coach!

In my final few months of A Levels, where every day I was praying for the end, I got a phone call from PNE, asking if I wanted to join there Academy coaching team as a goalkeeping coach/Analyst, this was the best news I could have asked for! Fast forward to the present day and I now take 13 goalkeepers every week at Preston, whilst also coaching for ELGA to create the next generation of goalkeepers and I couldn’t be enjoying it more!

Favourite Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford/ Gianluigi Buffon

Favourite team: Preston North End/Everton