• VIDEO: Lindisfarne College appoints highly-acclaimed athlete as Football Technical Director

VIDEO: Lindisfarne College appoints highly-acclaimed athlete as Football Technical Director

Jonathan Gould has made a name for himself over the past two decades as both an internationally acclaimed footballer and coach. Now he is calling Lindisfarne College in Hastings home as the new Football Technical Director and is passing down his knowledge to the next generation. 

Mr Gould says he is excited to have the opportunity to join the Sports staff at Lindisfarne.

"We are looking forward to implementing a football program that will engage, challenge and improve the students who enjoy playing Football. Furthermore, we are keen to encourage professional behaviours through training and playing that will prepare young men for their ongoing journey in life. I can’t wait to get started," he said. 

Mr Gould, 52, played over 400 professional games in Britain, including more than 150 for Celtic, and represented Scotland as a goalkeeper, before settling in Napier in 2005.

Since then, he has coached and occasionally played for both Hawke’s Bay United and the Wellington Phoenix as well as a coaching stint with Perth Glory. In 2016 Mr Gould joined West Bromwich Albion as their first-team goalkeeping coach and moved from there to Middlesbrough in 2018.

He comes from prestigious footballing stock as his father, Bobby Gould, coached Wimbledon to victory in the 1988 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Mr Gould already has links with the college. His son Matt Gould is himself an Old Boy of Lindisfarne College (2007 -2010) and had a very successful stint in goal for the First team.

Lindisfarne Director of Sport, Shea McAleese, a high-performing athlete (hockey) himself, said it is a coup for the college as Mr Gould’s credentials are extremely impressive. He is excited about the opportunity to have Mr Gould on board.

"To have someone of Jonny Gould’s ilk come in and support our Football Program is huge for all our boys and coaches. This will hopefully be the start of a new era in Lindisfarne Football."