Ellery Balcombe
Personal information
Full name Ellery Ronald Balcombe[1]
Date of birth (1999-10-15) 15 October 1999
Place of birth Watford, England[2]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Number 40
Youth career
Bedford Panthers
Stevenage
0000–2018 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Brentford 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Boreham Wood (loan) 8 (0)
2019–2020 → Viborg FF (loan) 8 (0)
2021 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 15 (0)
2021–2022 → Burton Albion (loan) 0 (0)
2022 → Bromley (loan) 15 (0)
2022–2023 → Crawley Town (loan) 10 (0)
2023 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 8 (0)
International career
2016–2017 England U18 3 (0)
2017–2018 England U19 9 (0)
2017–2019 England U20 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:03, 8 January 2024 (UTC)

Ellery Ronald Balcombe (born 15 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brentford.

Balcombe is a product of the Brentford academy. He turned professional in 2016 and was promoted into the first team squad in 2018, but has since played the majority of his career with the club away on loan. Balcombe was capped by England at youth level.

Club career

Brentford

Youth years (2014–2018)

A goalkeeper, Balcombe began his career as a youth with Bedford Panthers and Stevenage.[4] He began his affiliation with Brentford at the age of eight and progressed into the club's academy and its Elite U19 Education and Football Programme.[5][6] He was a part of the U15 team which won the Junior Globe at the 2014 Milk Cup.[7] While still an U16, Balcombe broke into the U18 team during the second half of the 2015–16 season, making six appearances.[8] He also made four Development Squad appearances.[9]

At the end of the 2015–16 season,[10] Balcombe was promoted into the new Brentford B team and signed his first professional contract on 15 October 2016.[11] Three weeks later, whiplash suffered in a car accident by second-choice goalkeeper Jack Bonham saw Balcombe win his maiden first team call up for a West London derby with Fulham.[12][2] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–0 defeat.[2] Balcombe played in the majority of the B team's matches during the 2016–17 season and helped the team to win the 2017 Kai Thor Cup.[13][14]

Balcombe was the undisputed first choice goalkeeper for the B team during the 2017–18 season and made 30 appearances.[15] He received his only first team call up of the season for a FA Cup third round match versus Notts County on 6 January 2018, in which he remained an unused substitute.[2]

2018–19

In June 2018, Balcombe signed a new four-year contract and was promoted into the first team squad.[16] On 6 August 2018, he joined National League club Boreham Wood on a youth loan until 1 January 2018.[17] He made eight appearances for the club,[18] before returning to Brentford early, for treatment on an injury suffered while on international duty in mid-October 2018.[19] After regaining fitness, he won his first senior Brentford call up of the 2018–19 season for an FA Cup third round match versus Oxford United on 5 January 2019.[2] Injuries suffered by goalkeepers saw Balcombe receive a number of call-ups into the first team squad during the final months of the season.[2][20][21]

2019–20

During the 2019–20 pre-season, Balcombe fell behind B team goalkeeper Patrik Gunnarsson in the first team goalkeeping pecking order and he instead travelled with the B team on its training camp in Cheshire.[22] On 2 September 2019, Balcombe joined Danish 1st Division club Viborg FF on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[23] He was sent off for the first time in his career on his eighth and what proved to be final appearance for the club, a 2–1 defeat to HB Køge on 2 November 2019.[2] The loan was terminated during the winter break, due to a season-ending back injury,[24] which required surgery.[25]

2020–21

Balcombe returned fit for the 2020–21 pre-season and owing to the departure of Patrik Gunnarsson on loan,[26][27] he served as third-choice goalkeeper behind David Raya and Luke Daniels.[2] He was an unused substitute during two early regular season matches.[2] Balcombe signed a new 4+1⁄2-year contract on 6 January 2021 and later that day, he joined League One club Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[28] He immediately assumed a starting role and one of his saves during a 4–0 FA Cup fourth round defeat to West Ham United on 23 January was nominated for the competition's Save of the Round award.[29][30] One week later, two penalty saves and a man of the match performance in a 1–0 win over Lincoln City saw Balcombe named in the League One Team of the Week.[31][32] Balcombe's January 2021 performances in league matches saw him nominated for the PFA Fans' League One Player of the Month award.[33][34] He finished his spell with 17 appearances and in his absence,[29] Brentford were promoted to the Premier League.[35]

2021–22

On 29 June 2021, Balcombe joined League One club Burton Albion on loan for the duration of the 2021–22 season.[36] Unable to dislodge first-choice goalkeeper Ben Garratt, he made just three EFL Trophy appearances before the termination of the loan on 4 January 2022.[37] On 31 January 2022, Balcombe joined National League club Bromley on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[38] He was signed as a replacement for departed backup goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook.[38] Initially appearing only in FA Trophy matches, Balcombe displaced first-choice goalkeeper Mark Cousins in the league lineup in March 2022.[2][39] His 19th and final appearance for the club came in the 1–0 2022 FA Trophy Final victory over Wrexham on 22 May 2022.[2][40]

2022–23

On 30 July 2022, Balcombe joined League Two club Crawley Town on a season-long loan.[41] He started in the club's opening 2022–23 fixture versus Carlisle United later that day, but was substituted due to injury at half-time during the 1–0 defeat.[42] He returned to match play on 29 October 2022 and made 11 further appearances before being recalled on 17 January 2023.[43][44][45] Two days later, Balcombe joined League One club Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[46] He made eight appearances during an injury-affected spell.[43][47]

2023–24

Following involvement in Brentford's 2023–24 pre-season matchday squads,[48][49] Balcombe began the regular season as third-choice goalkeeper, behind new signing Mark Flekken and the departed David Raya's deputy Thomas Strakosha.[50][51] On 26 August 2023, Balcombe was included in a competitive matchday squad for the first time since September 2020, when he remained an unused substitute during a 1–1 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace.[2] Three days later, he made his competitive debut for the club with a start in a EFL Cup second round match versus Newport County.[52] With the score 1–1 after extra time, Balcombe saved two penalties in the resulting shoot-out, helping Brentford to victory.[6] On 3 October 2023, Balcombe signed a new four-year contract, with a one-year option.[53]

International career

Balcombe was capped by England at U18, U19 and U20 level.[53] He was a part of the England squads at the 2018 UEFA European U19 Championship and the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Toulon Tournament.[54][55][56][57] He was uncapped at U21 level, but was an unused substitute in a number of matches and was called into the 2018 Toulon Tournament group as a standby and training support.[2][58] While on U21 duty in October 2019, Balcombe trained with the full England squad.[59]

Personal life

Balcombe is of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent through his parents.[3] He attended Castle Lower School in Bedford and won the Outstanding Achiever Award at the 2017 Bedford Sports Awards.[4]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoals
Brentford 2016–17[60] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2017–18[61] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2018–19[18] Championship 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2020–21[29] Championship 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
2023–24[52] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Boreham Wood (loan) 2018–19[18] National League 8 0 0 0 — 0 0 8 0
Viborg FF (loan) 2019–20[2] Danish 1st Division 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2020–21[29] League One 15 0 2 0 — — 17 0
Burton Albion (loan) 2021–22[62] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 3[lower-alpha 3] 0 3 0
Bromley (loan) 2021–22[2] National League 15 0 — — 4[lower-alpha 4] 0 19 0
Crawley Town (loan) 2022–23[43] League Two 10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2022–23[43] League One 8 0 — — — 8 0
Career total 740302070760
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

England U20

England U18

  • International Trophy: 2016[63]

Bromley

References

  1. ↑ "EFL Squad List 2020/21 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Ellery Balcombe at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 Ellery Balcombe at WorldFootball.net
  4. 1 2 "Sport Bedford & Bedford Borough Council Sports Development Unit present...Sports Awards 2017" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Brentford FC Elite Under 19 Education and Football Programme Trials". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Balcombe: I went into penalty shootout with confidence". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Milk Cup: Brentford U15s 4 Southampton U15s 0". Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Youth Team Player Stats". Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "2015/16 Development Squad Stats". Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Club statement: Brentford Academy restructuring". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe signs first professional contract". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  12. ↑ Moore, Tom (4 November 2016). "Dean Smith on Fulham loss and Jack Bonham's odd injury". getwestlondon. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe called up to England Under-18 squad". Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Match Report: Brentford B 3 Brann Bergen 1". Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  15. ↑ "B Team 17/18: One win, one loss and one full stats review". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "New contract for Ellery Balcombe". Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "International Talent Signs At Meadow Park". Boreham Wood Football Club. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Balcombe back with The Bees". Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Storer, Tom (23 February 2019). "Every word from Brentford boss Thomas Frank on the 5–1 win over Hull". footballlondon. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  21. ↑ Spencer, Phil (11 March 2019). "What Frank had to say on Daniel Bentley and Julian Jeanvier injuries". footballlondon. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  22. ↑ "B Team Training, Strength & Conditioning on Day Two of tour". www.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  23. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe joins Viborg FF on season-long loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  24. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe returns from loan due to injury". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  25. ↑ "An injury update from Neil Greig". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  26. ↑ "Peter Gilham's St George's Park Blog". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "Patrik Gunnarsson heads out on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "Balcombe signs new contract and makes loan move". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  30. ↑ "Balcombe misses out on Save of the Round prize". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "Balcombe voted man of the match against Lincoln City". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  32. ↑ @SkyBetLeagueOne (31 January 2021). "Team of the Week time! Powered by @WhoScored ratings!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe on PFA Fans' Player of the Month shortlist". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "No PFA Player of the Month awards in January". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  35. ↑ Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  36. ↑ "Ellery Balcombe joins Burton Albion on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  37. ↑ Powlson, Nigel. "Balcombe Loan Spell Comes To An End". www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  38. 1 2 "Ravens bring in Brentford's Ellery Balcombe". Bromley Football Club. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  39. ↑ "Torquay United fights hard for Bromley draw". Torbay Weekly. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  40. 1 2 "Bromley beat Wrexham to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "Balcombe loaned to Crawley". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  42. ↑ "Report | Carlisle United 1–0 Crawley Town". www.crawleytownfc.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  44. ↑ "Balcombe makes Crawley return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  45. ↑ "Balcombe recalled from Crawley". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  46. ↑ "Balcombe loaned to Bristol Rovers". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  47. ↑ "Balcombe keeps clean sheet on injury return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  48. ↑ "Highlights, report and reaction: Boreham Wood 1 Brentford 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  49. ↑ "Highlights, report and reaction: Brentford 0 Lille 0". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  50. ↑ Pyzdrowski, Matt; Harris, Jay. "Thomas Strakosha v David Raya: Let battle commence to be Brentford No 1". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  51. ↑ "Raya signs new contract and joins Arsenal on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  52. 1 2 "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  53. 1 2 "Balcombe signs new Brentford deal". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  54. ↑ "Under-19 – Norway-England". UEFA.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  55. ↑ Ellery Balcombe – UEFA competition record (archive)
  56. ↑ "Ellery helps out at UEFA". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  57. 1 2 "International Round-Up". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  58. ↑ "Goalkeeper Balcombe joins England U21 in Toulon". Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  59. ↑ "VFF-målmand trænede med Englands A-hold". bold.dk (in Danish). 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  63. ↑ "Young Lions secure International Trophy, despite 4–5 shoot-out defeat in Peterborough". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
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