Non-League and Academy football writer

On this blog I cover both non-League football as well as academy football, and this particular article covers both. I’ve watched a lot of category one and category two sides play in academy football during recent years, and I’ve always appreciated just how exceptionally difficult it is, as a goalkeeper, to make it as a professional footballer. Academy goalkeepers are often vying for a spot in their respective team (at Under 18 level for example) alongside three other goalkeeper for a starting place in the side on a Saturday morning. Born in Luton, and brought up in Milton Keynes, 22 year old goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz has represented Poland at youth level in the past, however, it was with North London side Spurs’ Academy set-up, that would have played a big part in Kacper’s development as a goalkeeper, so far. A goalkeeper who impressed me a lot whenever I saw him play at academy level for his old side, the goalkeeper had to be patient before really establishing himself in Spurs’ Under 18 side. The player who also featured on occasions for the old Spurs Under 23 side (now Spurs Under 21 side), Kacper is a real personality in games, and he is also in my opinion a real talent.

A goalkeeper who I have seen both in academy football and in non-League, Kurylowicz went out on loan for a time to Isthmian League Premier Division side Potters Bar Town, towards the end of his final season with Spurs (2021/22). An excellent shot stopper who is a very assertive goalkeeper, and someone who commands his box really well, Kacper was taught to play the game the Spurs way. So he is comfortable with the ball at his feet under pressure, and he is a good distributor of the ball. After being released by Spurs at the end of the 2021/22 season, Kacper trialled with West Ham United’s Under 21 side for a short while, even making the bench for them in the Premier League 2, before signing for then 8th tier side Yaxley. Kacper was the number one goalkeeper for Yaxley during the 2022/23 season. It was a difficult season for them, as they were relegated to the ninth tier of English football, and it was a season in which they struggled in. However, Kapcer made some top saves over the course of the season for Yaxley, and he put in some fine performances for them during the season. After leaving Yaxley at the end of last season, Kacper Kurylowicz played for seventh tier side St Ives Town during pre-season. However, he would later join Daventry Town, a side who play in the United Counties Premier Division South (the ninth tier of English football).

Kacper has started the majority of Daventry Town’s games this season, although he hasn’t started for them in their most recent fixtures. A goalkeeper with real leadership qualities and impressive communication skills on the pitch, Kurylowicz organises his defence really well and is encouraging, although he won’t stand for any unnecessary decisions made by the defence, while in possession of the ball. So he is a commanding goalkeeper, who is very confident in his own ability as a goalkeeper. In my opinion the former Spurs Academy goalkeeper, who has experience of training with the Spurs first team, is a goalkeeper with real quality, and someone who I think should be playing a lot higher up the leagues. However, as a goalkeeper it is of course very difficult at times to get opportunities at that higher level, although I really do believe that Kacper just needs a club (at this moment in time, maybe a sixth or seventh tier side) to give him that all important opportunity at a higher level. And if he gets that opportunity higher up in non-League, and he gets a really good run of games, then I really do believe that he will excel and really fulfil his true potential, as I believe that he has a very high ceiling as a goalkeeper. Kacper is still only 22 and he has a lot of time on his side, and I really hope that this quality young goalkeeper does get his chance at a higher level in the near future. I wish Kacper all the very best for the remainder of this season with Daventry Town.