Joe Bennett coaching a group of young players on the pitch

Joe Bennett Performance Academy — Walton on Thames, Surrey

The Joe Bennett Way

Run by Joe Bennett, a former professional footballer with over 450 games in the Premier League, Championship and League One. Weekly age-group sessions, private 1-to-1s and elite small groups at the Xcel Sports Complex, Walton-on-Thames.

Book a session → See the weekly schedule

Xcel Sports Complex · Walton-on-Thames

450+Professional
appearances

7Professional
clubs

6Weekly groups
Development to Advanced

Joe Bennett coaching a session — Joe Bennett · Founder & Head Coach

The Coach

About Joe Bennett

Joe Bennett is a former professional footballer with over 450 games in the Premier League, Championship and League One. A left-back, he came through the academy at Middlesbrough and made his first-team debut as a teenager, going on to play for Aston Villa, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic and Oxford United.

Sessions cover the same detail he was coached on as a professional: receiving under pressure, defending and attacking 1v1s, positioning, and decision making in and out of possession.

Joe coaches every session himself. Numbers are capped so each player gets individual feedback, and parents are told directly what their child is working on and where they currently stand.

MiddlesbroughAcademy graduate

Aston VillaPremier League

Brighton & Hove AlbionChampionship

Sheffield WednesdayChampionship

Cardiff CityPremier League

Wigan AthleticChampionship

Oxford UnitedChampionship

Playing career

On the pitch,
2008–2025

Over 450 appearances across the Premier League, Championship and League One, including promotion with Cardiff City and Oxford United.

Aston VillaPremier League

Joe Bennett playing for Cardiff City against Arsenal

Cardiff Cityv Arsenal

Joe Bennett shooting for Cardiff City against West Ham United

Cardiff Cityv West Ham

Joe Bennett playing for Cardiff City against Liverpool

Cardiff Cityv Liverpool

Joe Bennett with the play-off trophy at Wembley with Oxford United

Oxford UnitedWembley

Joe Bennett training with Wigan Athletic

Wigan AthleticChampionship

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What parents say

Trusted by families in Walton on Thames

"The coaching is genuinely professional. You can tell Joe knows what he's doing at the highest level. My son gets proper technical feedback every session and he's improved massively."

Parent, Academy Under 14s

"Joe challenges the kids but in a way that builds them up. It's clear, tough coaching without any of the shouting or negativity you see in some places. My son feels confident making mistakes because he knows Joe will show him how to fix it."

Parent, Academy Under 11s

"It's the attention to detail that stands out. Joe actually watches every player. Each one gets individual coaching, not just instructions to the group. My son has learned more in a few months here than he did in a year at other places."

Parent, Under 9s Advanced Group

Ready to get started

Book a free trial session

Try any of our groups with no commitment. See the coaching standard, meet the players, and find the right fit for your child.

Book a free trial Call 07805 061532

WhatsApp welcome. No obligation.

Sessions

All sessions are coached by Joe Bennett at the Xcel Sports Complex, Walton-on-Thames. Weekly age-group sessions are billed monthly; Sunday sessions are booked and paid for individually.

One player · Sundays

Private
1-to-1

One hour of individual coaching, planned around the player's position and current level.

Two slots each Sunday: 2:00pm or 3:00pm
One hour, one player, planned around their position
Technical work, finishing, 1v1s and decision making
Feedback to the player and parent after each session

Book a 1-to-1 →

Matched by ability · Sundays

The Joe
Bennett way

A customised session matched by ability, not age. Every player gets direct coaching and individual feedback in every session.

Sundays, 1:00pm — one hour
Matched by ability, not age — consistent level across the group
Intended for players at, or working towards, academy level
Technical work, 1v1s and small-sided games
Customised to the group's development focus

Enquire about a group →

Weekly · By age group

Academy
membership

A weekly session for a set age group, running through the school term.

Mondays 5:30–6:30pm · Academy Under 14s
Tuesdays 4:30–5:30pm · Under 9s Advanced Group
Tuesdays 4:30–5:30pm · Girls 10–13s Performance Group
Wednesdays 5–6pm · Academy Under 11s
Thursdays 5–6pm · Under 9s Development Group
Thursdays 5–6pm · Under 9s Performance Group

See the schedule →

The small group is matched by ability rather than age, so the standard stays consistent and everyone gets proper individual feedback throughout the session. If you are unsure whether it suits your child, get in touch and Joe will advise.

Joe Bennett working one-to-one with a player during a private session

Private 1-to-1

One player.
One hour. Full attention.

Every 1-to-1 is built around what a specific player needs to work on, with feedback given directly during the session, not just at the end of it.

The week

Weekly schedule

Xcel Sports Complex
Walton-on-Thames

Monday

17:30 — 18:30

Academy Under 14s

Weekly age-group session. Position-specific work, pressing and small-sided games.

Enquire

Tuesday

16:30 — 17:30

Under 9s Advanced Group

Elite tier. Most developed players, position-specific detail, tactical focus.

Enquire

Tuesday

16:30 — 17:30

Girls 10–13s Performance Group

Technical session for girls aged 10–13. Combination play, positional work, small-sided games.

Enquire

Wednesday

17:00 — 18:00

Academy Under 11s

Weekly age-group session. Technical work, 1v1s and small-sided games.

Enquire

Thursday

17:00 — 18:00

Under 9s Development Group

Entry level. Ball mastery, first touch and basic game understanding.

Enquire

Thursday

17:00 — 18:00

Under 9s Performance Group

Intermediate tier. Developing technical and tactical awareness.

Enquire

Sunday

13:00 — 14:00

The Joe Bennett Way

Matched by ability, one hour. Direct coaching and feedback every session.

Enquire

Sunday

14:00 — 15:00

Private 1-to-1

Individual session, one hour. Planned around the player's position and level.

Enquire

Sunday

15:00 — 16:00

Private 1-to-1

Second individual slot each week. One hour, subject to availability.

Enquire

The groups

Each session,
in detail

What each weekly group actually covers. Tap a session on the schedule above, or jump straight to one below.

Young players running during a Development Group session

Thursdays, 5–6pmDevelopment

Under 9s Development Group

Entry-level coaching for players comfortable on the ball but new to structured football. Every session is built around the fundamentals: close control, receiving, and basic 1v1 — the building blocks that everything else sits on.

This group is about confidence and enjoyment. No position-specific work at this age. Just the ball, the space, and the freedom to try things.

Ball mastery and close control
First touch, both feet
Basic 1v1 attacking and defending
Introduction to small-sided games

Enquire about Development →

Player running with the ball during a Performance Group session

Thursdays, 5–6pmPerformance

Under 9s Performance Group

The middle tier. Players here have progressed beyond the basics and are ready for more structure and intensity. Sessions introduce combination play, receiving under pressure, and a first taste of tactical awareness.

The pace is noticeably faster than Development. Small-sided games dominate, testing what's been coached in a competitive environment.

Receiving under pressure
Combination play and two-touch passing
1v1 with tactical intent
Positional introduction in small-sided games

Enquire about Performance →

Young player performing a dribbling drill during an Advanced Group session

Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30pmAdvanced

Under 9s Advanced Group

The elite tier. These are your most developed young players. Sessions are position-specific from the start, with pressing triggers, defensive shape, and tactical decision-making woven into every drill.

This group trains at a level noticeably above the other tiers. Technical ability is assumed — coaching focus shifts to game understanding and performance under pressure.

Position-specific technical detail
Pressing principles and defensive shape
Game understanding and decision-making
Competitive small-sided games with tactical themes

Enquire about Advanced →

Wednesdays, 5–6pmAcademy

Academy Under 11s

A structured session for a wider age range, focusing on the fundamentals of good football. Technical work builds on first touch and passing, with an introduction to how to play in shape.

Sessions move at a steady tempo with regular small-sided games to cement what's been coached.

Technical fundamentals
Receiving under pressure
Introduction to positional shape
Small-sided games and game awareness

Enquire about Under 11s →

Mondays, 5:30–6:30pmAcademy

Academy Under 14s

The most tactical of the weekly sessions. By this age, technical ability is assumed — coaching focus is decision-making, pressing triggers, and the detail that separates players at trials and academy level.

Position-specific work is a regular part of every session, alongside physical preparation appropriate for the age group.

Position-specific detail
Pressing and defensive shape
Game understanding and tactical decision-making
Age-appropriate physical preparation

Enquire about Under 14s →

Joe Bennett coaching a Girls Performance Group session

Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30pmPerformance

Girls 10–13s Performance Group

Technical coaching for girls aged 10–13 years old. This is a proper session — combination play, receiving under pressure, and positional awareness at the same standard and intensity as our boys' groups.

As girls' football grows, this group is about proving that serious coaching and competitive challenge aren't age-dependent — they're about standard and commitment.

Technical fundamentals and combination play
Receiving under pressure
Positional awareness and small-sided tactics
Competitive game understanding

Enquire about Girls Performance →

On the pitch

What sessions
cover

Every session works through four areas. The balance between them changes with the age group and the standard of the players on the pitch.

Technical work under pressure

First touch, receiving on the half-turn and passing with both feet, worked against a defender or a time limit rather than in isolation.

1v1 duels

Both sides of the duel: committing and beating a defender, and defending without diving in or getting turned.

Small-sided games

Conditioned games that apply the work from earlier in the session, with coaching points reinforced as they play.

Decision making

Scanning before receiving, choosing the right pass, and recognising when to keep possession and when to play forward.

Joe Bennett with a group of academy players after a session

Joe Bennett running a ball-mastery drill

Joe Bennett giving a team talk to players

Player on the ball in a small-sided game

Joe Bennett coaching players beside a goal

Player taking a drinks break in academy kit

Player dribbling in a bib during a small-sided game

Players gathered round for coaching points

Joe Bennett setting up goals at the training base

Joe Bennett with training balls at the Xcel Sports Complex

The base

Xcel Sports Complex,
Walton-on-Thames

The academy is based in Walton-on-Thames and trains at the Xcel Sports Complex. The pitches are floodlit 3G, so sessions run right through the winter.

Parking, changing facilities and indoor seating for parents are available on site. Players should arrive in boots or astro trainers, with shin pads and a water bottle.

VenueXcel Sports Complex

TownWalton-on-Thames, Surrey

SurfaceFloodlit 3G, all year

BringBoots · Shin pads · Water

Partnerships

Work with us

We work with kit suppliers, facilities providers, and brands who share our commitment to developing young footballers. If you're interested in partnering with the academy, get in touch.

Send partnership enquiry WhatsApp

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