The Echo can reveal exclusive details of Sunderland’s latest appointment as the club reshapes its Academy of Light goalkeeping structure.
Sunderland have appointed James Montgomery as the club’s new Head of Academy Goalkeeping and under-21 lead, The Echo understands.
Montgomery has already been working with goalkeepers at the Academy of Light in recent months and has now taken on a senior position within the club’s expanding specialist department. The former Gateshead goalkeeper will oversee Sunderland’s academy goalkeeping programme while taking direct responsibility for the development of the club’s under-21 shot-stoppers.
His appointment forms part of a significant restructuring being led by first-team goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler as Sunderland seek to build a more complete and joined-up pathway from the youngest academy age groups through to the senior team.
Montgomery’s expertise has been utilised alongside fellow Sunderland-born goalkeeper Pete Jameson in recent months, with both coaches brought into the Academy of Light as the club increases the support available to its young players.
Sunderland are also actively looking to add further goalkeeping coaches at both first-team and academy level as the operation expands to meet the standards required in the Premier League and European competition.
Montgomery’s playing and coaching career
Born in Sunderland, Montgomery began his football career in Middlesbrough’s academy before moving into non-league football with Guiseley. He later attended the Nike Football Academy and joined AFC Telford United in 2015, making 66 league appearances before signing for Gateshead in January 2017.
Montgomery went on to represent Forest Green Rovers, AFC Fylde, Southend United, Chesterfield and Spennymoor Town, alongside several separate spells with Gateshead. He made his professional debut for Forest Green in the EFL Cup in August 2018 and also represented England C twice during the 2017-18 season.
Montgomery featured for Gateshead in successive FA Trophy finals at Wembley. The Heed were beaten by FC Halifax Town in 2023 before returning a year later and defeating Solihull Moors on penalties.
The goalkeeper saved one spot-kick in the shootout as Gateshead secured a 5-4 victory in May 2024. Montgomery announced his retirement from playing later that summer, having already started building his coaching experience in the North East. He combined playing for Spennymoor with a youth goalkeeping position at Newcastle United before moving further into coaching after the conclusion of his playing career.
Sunderland reshape goalkeeping department
Montgomery’s grandfather was a cousin of legendary Sunderland goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery, who remains the club’s record appearance holder after playing 627 times for the Black Cats.
Montgomery’s arrival is one of several changes being made as Sunderland modernise their goalkeeping structure. Cutler is overseeing the wider operation, with former Sunderland academy goalkeeper Jonny Maddison working as his number two. Maddison, who was born in Chester-le-Street, spent time within Sunderland’s youth system before building a senior career across the North East and beyond. He was also part of Leicester City’s playing group during the club’s Premier League title-winning season and is highly regarded for his coaching work.
Former Sunderland and Liverpool goalkeeper Mark Prudhoe will continue to play an important role with younger players at the Academy of Light. Prudhoe remains one of the most respected figures within Sunderland’s academy and has helped develop several goalkeepers during his time at the club, most notably England number one Jordan Pickford.
Sunderland want Prudhoe to remain involved for many years, while also ensuring his workload is managed properly as more coaches are added around him. His role is expected to include work with younger age groups as well as input around academy loans and scouting.
Jameson has also been working with Sunderland’s young goalkeepers in recent months, though the precise details of his longer-term position are still being finalised. The 33-year-old was born in Sunderland and was previously part of Middlesbrough’s system before building significant non-league experience with clubs including Darlington, Blyth Spartans, York City, Harrogate Town and Gateshead.
Further appointments expected
Sunderland have been advertising for goalkeeping coaches across the under-21s and the under-13 to under-18 age groups as part of the restructure.
More full-time and part-time appointments are expected, with the club also exploring the addition of further support around the first-team group.
The intention is not simply to increase staffing numbers. Sunderland want to create a detailed and consistent coaching programme that supports goalkeepers throughout their development and makes the transition between age groups smoother. Well-placed sources have indicated that the club are seeking to create a clearer goalkeeping identity across the Academy of Light, with greater communication between first-team and youth staff.
Florent Ghisolfi is understood to be driving higher standards across Sunderland’s academy and support departments, while owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is keen for the club to operate with a Premier League-level structure throughout the organisation. Sunderland’s first-team rise has been rapid and there is an acknowledgement that the departments around the team must now develop at a similar pace.
Specialist support added
The club have already produced and developed a number of goalkeepers, with Pickford, Anthony Patterson and Matty Young among the most obvious examples of a pathway that has delivered.
The aim is therefore not to replace what has worked, but to provide greater depth around it and ensure Sunderland have enough specialist staff to support players at every stage of their development. The club have also brought in goalkeeping-specific sports science expertise to work within the department.
Goalkeepers require different physical preparation to outfield players, with a greater focus on explosive power, movement patterns, agility, landing mechanics, recovery and injury prevention. Sunderland’s decision to appoint a specialist is designed to provide more individualised physical support throughout the pathway.
Experienced first-team goalkeeper Simon Moore is another important figure within the wider group.
Moore is working through his coaching qualifications and is valued for the experience and perspective he provides alongside Robin Roefs and Melker Ellborg. He is also able to feed back directly to Cutler about sessions, the group dynamic and the requirements of Sunderland’s senior goalkeepers. That communication is seen as particularly useful within a relatively young first-team goalkeeping unit.
Montgomery’s appointment represents another significant step in the development of the department.
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