about acgk

STAFF

Akira Fitzgerald

Associate GK Director

As a member of the Richmond Kickers pro soccer team, Akira joined the ACGK, LLC staff after spending two seasons with USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies, making 25 saves and recording four clean sheets in 13 appearances with the Rowdies. Over two different stints with North Carolina FC, Akira made 82 appearances for the club, making 406 saves. He earned a contract with Major League Soccer expansion side New York City FC in 2015.

During his four years at Wake Forest University, Akira made 73 appearances with the Demon Deacons, being named Second Team All-ACC his senior season, and was one of 30 candidates for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for men’s soccer after an ACC-leading 81 save season. In 2007, Akira claimed a national championship as a member of the side that defeated Ohio State 2-1 in the NCAA College Cup Final. During his junior and senior seasons, he recorded 12 appearances with the Cary Clarets of USL League Two. 

Akira has a professional drive and character in all that he does, and he will expect the same from anyone in a training session. His wealth of experience on the playing and coaching side offers a valuable resource to those in the ACGK programs. He is also a certified yoga instructor, and he will be bringing this experience to the programs.

Matt Broomall

Associate Coach

Matt, a member of the Richmond Kickers pro soccer team, joined the ACGK, LLC staff after a season with Atlantic City FC in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In 2017, the Somers Point, NJ native played a season at Sodertalje FK in Sweden; his first professional club after five seasons at Rutgers University-Newark. Whilst at Rutgers Newark, Matt was a 4 year starter, earning NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year awards in both his freshman and junior seasons. Matt also holds the record for most shutouts at Rutgers-Newark.

After signing with the Kickers, Matt traveled to Ireland in the off-season and gained valuable experience training in the Northern Ireland Football League Championship with Dundela FC and Portadown FC, as well as in the Northern Ireland Premiership with Larne FC.

Matt is an exceptional coach, having coached at Bluefield College for 2 seasons and Averett University for a season prior to joining the Richmond Kickers. He is a certified yoga instructor, and has a tremendous passion for developing the future of goalkeeping. He will be adding aspects of yoga to the ACGK programs to help goalkeepers with mobility, flexibility, and recovery. 

Lee Johnston

Associate Coach

Richmond Kickers pro soccer team member Lee Johnston joined the ACGK staff this spring. His professional playing career has seen him participate in the US and Sweden, playing for San Antonio FC from 2016-18, Härnösands FF in 2018, IFK Timrå in 2019, and now with the Richmond Kickers.

After graduating from West Virginia University in 2015 as a four year starter for the Mountaineers, Lee was a volunteer goalkeeper coach for Niagara University in the 2015 season before signing with San Antonio FC, where he continued his coaching as an assistant in the San Antonio FC Youth Pro Academy from 2016-2017.

In his 7 years of coaching experience working with youth goalkeepers, Lee has discovered a passion in developing fundamental techniques, and provides valuable insight into the importance of being mentally strong as a goalkeeper. Lee is a tremendous coach who is able to connect with each keeper, creating a dynamic relationship in their development.

Mike Kirk

Associate Coach

Former professional goalkeeper Mike Kirk joined ACGK, LLC in spring 2020.  Mike played professionally for three seasons before stepping away from the game due to injury.  He began his career with Rio Grande FC in the USL Championship before signing with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds the following season.  He finished his career with the USL League 1 side, Lansing Ignite in 2019.

Mike attended La Salle University where he’s ranked 4th all time in shutouts (15), recording 6 of those shutouts in the 2014 season, and was a two-year captain.  While at La Salle, Mike recorded a career save percentage of .730.  Before his professional career, he spent a season with USL League Two’s Ocean City Nor’easters, winning the Eastern Conference Championship.   

Mike brings three years of coaching experience, most notably coaching with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Goalkeeper & Development Academies. He is a demanding coach who has a fantastic rapport with young goalkeepers, and he has a work ethic that is infectious to those he is working with. Mike’s knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects of the modern day goalkeeper are exceptional.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

WHY we do WHAT we do

All ACGK staff have a passion for the goalkeeper position, and that passion is relayed through coaching the next generations of goalkeepers. The environment created at ACGK, LLC is inspirational, engaging, and vibrant, and the sole purpose of the organization is to take keepers from where they are and give them the skill set necessary to continue their careers at higher levels – be it recreational, travel, college, or professional soccer.

Because goalkeeping is a specialized position, there is a specific need to train youth keepers at a high level that engages them fully. It is important that youth goalkeepers receive the correct instruction at the key moments on their developmental paths so that they can fully maximize their potential. The programs offered at ACGK, LLC are entirely focused on the goalkeeper position, with each program specifically tailored to fit the needs of the goalkeeper in the modern game.

Goalkeepers are usually the “odd man/woman out” within a team, as training programs within the team environment usually only focus on the field players – from drills and training sessions, to off-season conditioning programs. There is a need to train goalkeepers in a manner that meets the unique requirements of the goalkeeper job description, and they need to be set up for success by having deliberate, focused training that covers the demands of the game.

The philosophy of ACGK, LLC is that our keepers are trained progressively and that they TRULY enjoy having one of the greatest jobs on earth! Our programs inspire goalkeepers to focus on personal development, to build confidence, and to become the best versions of themselves that they can be.

The goalkeeper is very rarely appreciated or valued for what they do on the field, but all staff at ACGK, LLC have an understanding and appreciation for ALL that goalkeepers are and do.

Our Future

The Endgame

ACGK, LLC strives to become a recognized name, locally and regionally, and synonymous with goalkeeper development. We are a comprehensive organization that is focused on the technical, tactical, psychological, and socio-emotional development of each individual goalkeeper.

Keepers will always be encouraged to be adventurous and dare-devilish, and to explore all that goalkeeping has to offer. Goalkeepers within the program will find the confidence, hope, and inspiration to continue on their respective paths, and the comprehensive, goalkeeper specific programs will create a dominant sense of holistic well-being for each individual. Health, fitness, a strong presence, leadership, motivation, confidence, intuition, determination, and commitment will be just some of the by-products of the ACGK, LLC programs.