Brenden Johns, Mossley’s new goalkeeping coach, believes he scores over his rivals because he is not pigeon-holed into one role.
The 31-year-old from Stalybridge has coaching qualifications both for goalkeepers and outfield players, having earlier played in and out of goal.
“For me as a coach, I am more of a hybrid because as I played keeper and outfield so understand and appreciate both aspects,” explained Johns whose CV includes spells in Mexico City and America where he worked in the academies at two Major League Soccer clubs.
“There are players who don’t appreciate the work of a keeper while keepers often feel under appreciated by outfield players. If you are not in a coaching position, you do not understand the different factors.”
Johns, who was raised in Dukinfield and attended Yew Tree Primary and Audenshaw High School, turned to coaching a decade ago after realising he was not going to play at a high level but wanting to remain in the game he loved.
He played junior football for Brendan Bees and Denton Town and then open age for Staly Lions and Dukinfield Athletic in the Lancashire and Cheshire League.
Johns said: “I was an average keeper, very good shot stopper and kicker, but didn’t keep growing – I am only about 5ft 6in and knew my limitations.
“I was then a left winger but was always picking up knocks, broken collar bone, ankle which needed surgery and torn groin.”
Johns kicked off his coaching career aged 21 at Dukinfield Youth’s Saturday morning soccer schools and soon landed a job in Mexico City which where he coached everyone from U6 to open age at various venues.
These included The Reforma Athletic Club which was a training based for England during the 1986 World Cup.
“I only found out that later when watching a documentary about Bobby Robson and I recognised the training ground as somewhere I had worked at,” he said.
The experience also shaped Johns’ life as he continued: “To experience living in Mexico City was amazing. I look back and think how did I do that as I arrived not knowing one word of Spanish.
“I also met Ari who became my girlfriend and who is now my wife.”
Johns then moved to the United States where he coached with Youth Elite Soccer’s soccer camps in Connecticut, Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh.
That was followed by spells working in the feeder academies for MLS club Houston Dynamos and Chicago Fire.
Johns returned home in December 2018 and began working for his UEFA B Licence while coaching at AFC Oldham’s U16s and open-age teams. He also has his Level 1 and Level 2 goalkeeping badges.
Since then, he has coached Moston Juniors U21s, been assistant manager at Cheadle Town U23s, Curzon Ashton’s U18s goalkeeping coach, Cheadle Heath Nomads’ first-team goalkeeping coach and the same role at Northwich Victoria before his move to Mossley.
Johns’ day-time job is working for Reddish-based Dragon Football Academy. He coaches students aged 16/19 who are studying for a BTech in sport.
Looking long-term, Johns says the dream would be to land a full-time role at a professional club or manage a non-league team.
“I would probably be better as a head coach or goalkeeping coach but I will have to wait and see. I am still only aged 31 which is classed as young for a coach,” he continued.
Johns, a Manchester United fan whose idols were Ryan Giggs, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and David Beckham, professes to be a student of the game.
He said: “Sir Alex Ferguson was an influence when it comes to coaching and management as his record will probably be never surpassed.
“Johan Cruyff and Ajax’s Total Football was also a big influence and I also admire Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola and try and take bits from them all and put them into how I want to play the game.”