The ex-Portsmouth goalkeepers overseeing the city's next generation of Premier League and Football League talent
The pair were on the Blues’ books during the Premier League era
A pair of former Pompey goalkeepers have joined forces to launch a coaching academy in the city.
Now, 12 months later, the flourishing business is supplying hugely-promising players to Southampton, Chelsea, Pompey and Bournemouth.
Nick Jordan and Asmir Begovic crossed paths at Fratton Park during the Premier League years as they graduated through the youth system and into the Blues’ first-team set-up.
Begovic made 17 appearances after dislodging David James, before being controversially sold to Stoke in February 2010 with the club plummeting towards administration.
While Jordan, who hails from Milton, sat on Pompey’s bench as a 16-year-old at the start of the 2006-07 season under Harry Redknapp and later represented Exeter, Crawley, Weymouth, the Rocks, Gosport, Baffins and Moneyfields.
In February 2025, the duo reunited under the banner of the NJ Elite Goalkeeper Academy, with business now booming.
And Jordan, who also assists Marlon Pack in running Moneyfields’ under-12s this season, is delighted with the goalkeeping academy’s progress.
He told The News: ‘I was coaching my son Maxwell and I kept getting approaches from parents to work with their children, but I didn’t have the time. Then I saw Asmir on social media announcing he was looking to set up goalkeeping academies around the country.
‘It struck me that there was a gap in Portsmouth, so maybe I could start up something. We began with 16 kids - now we’re up to 54, plus four coaches.
‘Interest - from kids and clubs - has been fantastic and it’s growing and growing. We have been able to put our goalkeepers into showcase events at Southampton quite consistently, while recently I had eight goalkeepers attend a Pompey talent ID centre run by Academy goalkeeper coach Steve Manning.
‘I believe it’s the level of training which sets us apart from everybody else, the detail, the technical aspect, the enthusiasm, the environment.
‘Since we started, 90 per cent of the children from day one are still here, which I’m really proud of. To retain that number shows we are doing something right.
‘Our reputation is building, we have established strong links with Southampton, Fulham, Brighton and Bournemouth, and are gradually being recognised as a professional goalkeeping academy to the extent a lot of clubs now want to work with us.
‘I’ve also recently sat down with Joe Prodomo (Pompey goalkeeping coach) to assess what opportunities are available. We have such vast numbers coming through our Academy now, it would be silly for professional clubs not to try to get involved.’
Jordan was in the same Pompey youth team as Joel Ward and Matt Ritchie, while also featured alongside Ward for East Lodge.
Clearly goalkeeping runs in the family too, with Nick’s son, Maxwell, on the books of Southampton Under-12s, having been converted from a central midfielder two years ago.
While he also assists another ex-Blues team-mate, Marlon Pack, in running Moneyfields’ Under-12s.
He added: ‘Myself and Marlon played in the same Pompey youth-team for eight years, then our lads ended up playing together for Moneyfields!
‘Marlon is head coach of Moneyfields’ under-12s and I help him. His son is a central midfielder and is very, very technical, like Marlon!
‘Our former youth-team manager Shaun North recently took the kids for a training session. It’s like everything has come full circle.’
The NJ Elite Goalkeeper Academy runs sessions on Mondays from 6-7pm and 7-8pm at King George V Football Complex, in Cosham.
More more details email [email protected]