JJ O’Donnell Elite Football Academy was founded in 2019 by Professional Footballer JJ O’Donnell. Established in Gateshead, beginning with nine children at Gateshead Leisure Centre, The Academy has grown greatly since.

After lockdown of 2021, JJ O’Donnell Elite Football Academy now has over 50 children ages 6-14 at its weekly Wednesday night Academy Session. It also now has Soccer Schools which attract over 60 children to each one as well as doing 1:1 Sessions, Small Group Sessions, Birthday Parties and School Sessions for a variety of Schools across Gateshead.

JJ began playing football aged 5 and was in academy football aged 7 when he signed for Watford FC. Seven years later he was to leave Watford and move onto MK Dons where he stayed for two years. JJ turned professional when he was just 17 joining Luton Town where he stayed untill he was 23. After leaving the Bedfordshire side JJ headed North and signed for Gateshead FC in 2014. Alongside playing full-time in 2019, JJ began his Football Academy of which many children have benefited. In 2021, JJ left full-time football for the first time in his career to concentrate on growing the Goalkeeping academy. Further in goal, our goalkeeper coach Jed can help you with that. He still plays part-time in the National League North with Blyth Spartans.