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Ellery Balcombe
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Ellery Ronald Balcombe (born 15 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brentford.
Key Information
Balcombe is a product of the Brentford academy and B team. 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
[edit]Brentford
[edit]Youth years (2014–2018)
[edit]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 season and loan to Boreham Wood
[edit]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 season and loan to Viborg FF
[edit]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 season and loan to Doncaster Rovers
[edit]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 season and loans to Burton Albion and Bromley
[edit]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 season and loans to Crawley Town and Bristol Rovers
[edit]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 season
[edit]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] He was an unused substitute on five occasions during the 2023–24 season.[2]
2024–25 season and loans to St Mirren and Motherwell
[edit]On 24 May 2024, Balcombe joined Scottish Premiership club St Mirren on loan for the duration of the 2024–25 season.[54] After making 26 appearances and playing European football for the first time in his career,[55] Balcombe was recalled on 5 January 2025.[56] On 23 January, he joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on loan until the end of the season and made 12 appearances.[55][57]
International career
[edit]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.[58][59][60][61] 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][62] While on U21 duty in October 2019, Balcombe trained with the full England squad.[63]
Personal life
[edit]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] Balcombe is a Brentford supporter.[64]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 16 February 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 2016–17[65] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[66] | 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 | |||
| 2025–26[67] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 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[68] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Bromley (loan) | 2021–22[2] | National League | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | 4[d] | 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 | ||||
| St Mirren (loan) | 2024–25[57] | Scottish Premiership | 21 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2024–25[57] | Scottish Premiership | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 97 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 114 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes FA Cup, Danish Cup, Scottish Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
- ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
- ^ Appearances in Conference League
Honours
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "EFL Squad List 2020/21 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Ellery Balcombe at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b Ellery Balcombe at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b "Sport Bedford & Bedford Borough Council Sports Development Unit present...Sports Awards 2017" (PDF). p. 25. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ "Brentford FC Elite Under 19 Education and Football Programme Trials". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Balcombe: I went into penalty shootout with confidence". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Milk Cup: Brentford U15s 4 Southampton U15s 0". Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "Youth Team Player Stats". Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "2015/16 Development Squad Stats". Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Club statement: Brentford Academy restructuring". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe signs first professional contract". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Moore, Tom (4 November 2016). "Dean Smith on Fulham loss and Jack Bonham's odd injury". getwestlondon. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe called up to England Under-18 squad". Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ "Match Report: Brentford B 3 Brann Bergen 1". Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ^ "B Team 17/18: One win, one loss and one full stats review". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "New contract for Ellery Balcombe". Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "International Talent Signs At Meadow Park". Boreham Wood Football Club. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ "Balcombe back with The Bees". Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Storer, Tom (23 February 2019). "Every word from Brentford boss Thomas Frank on the 5–1 win over Hull". footballlondon. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ Spencer, Phil (11 March 2019). "What Frank had to say on Daniel Bentley and Julian Jeanvier injuries". footballlondon. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe joins Viborg FF on season-long loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe returns from loan due to injury". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "An injury update from Neil Greig". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Peter Gilham's St George's Park Blog". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Patrik Gunnarsson heads out on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Balcombe signs new contract and makes loan move". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Balcombe misses out on Save of the Round prize". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Balcombe voted man of the match against Lincoln City". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ @SkyBetLeagueOne (31 January 2021). "Team of the Week time! Powered by @WhoScored ratings!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe on PFA Fans' Player of the Month shortlist". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "No PFA Player of the Month awards in January". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe joins Burton Albion on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Ravens bring in Brentford's Ellery Balcombe". Bromley Football Club. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Torquay United fights hard for Bromley draw". Torbay Weekly. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Bromley beat Wrexham to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Balcombe loaned to Crawley". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Report | Carlisle United 1–0 Crawley Town". www.crawleytownfc.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Balcombe makes Crawley return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Balcombe recalled from Crawley". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ "Balcombe loaned to Bristol Rovers". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "Balcombe keeps clean sheet on injury return". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Highlights, report and reaction: Boreham Wood 1 Brentford 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Highlights, report and reaction: Brentford 0 Lille 0". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ Pyzdrowski, Matt; Harris, Jay. "Thomas Strakosha v David Raya: Let battle commence to be Brentford No 1". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Raya signs new contract and joins Arsenal on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Balcombe signs new Brentford deal". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Balcombe joins St Mirren on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Balcombe joins Motherwell on loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Balcombe recalled from St Mirren loan". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Under-19 – Norway-England". UEFA. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
- ^ Ellery Balcombe – UEFA competition record (archive)
- ^ "Ellery helps out at UEFA". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ a b "International Round-Up". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Balcombe joins England U21 in Toulon". Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ellery Balcombe: The madness of football". Motherwell Football Club. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Games played by Ellery Balcombe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Young Lions secure International Trophy, despite 4–5 shoot-out defeat in Peterborough". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
External links
[edit]- Ellery Balcombe at Soccerbase
- Ellery Balcombe at brentfordfc.com
- Ellery Balcombe at thefa.com
- Ellery Balcombe – UEFA competition record (archive)
Ellery Balcombe
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Childhood and family background
Ellery Balcombe was born on 15 October 1999 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.[1] Balcombe is of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent through his parents.[1] He gained his initial exposure to football through community-based youth activities in Bedford, including stints with local teams like Bedford Panthers.[9]Education and early football influences
Balcombe attended Castle Lower School in Bedford during his primary education, where he balanced academics with extracurricular sports activities, particularly football, demonstrating early talent in goalkeeping.[10] His involvement in school sports programs helped foster discipline and teamwork. Balcombe's introduction to competitive football began through local clubs in Bedford, starting with the amateur youth team at Bedford Panthers around the age of 10, where he honed basic skills in informal training sessions and matches.[9] This early exposure to organized play was supplemented by a brief stint in Stevenage FC's youth setup, offering more structured development and exposure to higher-level competition in the region.[11] Key influences included dedicated local coaches who emphasized technical proficiency and mental resilience, as well as participation in regional tournaments that showcased his potential beyond casual play. These formative experiences culminated in his move to Brentford FC at age 8 in 2007.[2] Shortly after joining, Balcombe featured prominently for Brentford's U15 side in the 2014 Milk Cup international youth tournament in Northern Ireland, where he contributed to victories including a 4-0 win over Southampton and a 4-2 triumph against County Down, gaining valuable international exposure early in his academy tenure.[12][13]Club career
Brentford academy and youth development (2014–2018)
Ellery Balcombe joined Brentford's academy at the age of eight after beginning his youth career at Stevenage, progressing steadily through the club's youth ranks during his early teenage years. By 2014, at age 14, he was established in the Under-16 setup, where he honed his goalkeeping skills through regular competitive matches and integrated training programs designed to develop technical proficiency and tactical awareness.[2][14] In the 2015–16 season, Balcombe featured prominently for the Under-18 team, contributing to their development in youth leagues while beginning to train with senior elements of the academy to bridge the gap to professional levels. His performances earned him a promotion to the newly formed B team at the start of the 2016–17 season, where he made his debut and quickly adapted, starting four of his initial seven appearances and demonstrating composure under pressure. To support his growth, Brentford's technical staff implemented tailored training sessions focusing on his strengths, such as shot-stopping, and areas for improvement, including distribution and aerial command.[14] Balcombe's form in the academy led to his first professional contract, signed on 15 October 2016—his 17th birthday—securing his place in the B team squad until the end of the 2018–19 season. Over the next two years, he accumulated 53 appearances for the B team across various competitions, solidifying his role as a key prospect and occasionally training with the first-team squad. His academy achievements were recognized with England youth international call-ups, including an Under-18 debut against Sweden in October 2016. In June 2018, Balcombe extended his commitment by signing a new four-year professional contract until summer 2022, reflecting his rapid progression and potential within Brentford's youth development pathway.[14][15]Early professional loans and first-team breakthrough (2018–2022)
Balcombe's professional career began with a loan move to National League side Boreham Wood in August 2018, where he remained until January 2019 and made eight appearances, conceding ten goals while keeping one clean sheet. This initial spell provided his first taste of senior football outside Brentford's youth setup, helping him gain experience in competitive matches at the fifth tier of English football.[2] In the summer of 2019, Balcombe joined Danish 1st Division club Viborg FF on loan until January 2020, during which he featured in eight league games, conceding six goals and securing three clean sheets.[16] His contributions contributed to Viborg's successful promotion to the Danish Superliga as champions of the 2019–20 1st Division.[2] Recalled midway through the spell, Balcombe signed a contract extension with Brentford in early 2021 to facilitate further development through loans. Balcombe's most extensive loan of the period came in January 2021, when he joined League One club Doncaster Rovers until the end of the 2020–21 season, establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper with 17 appearances across all competitions.[2] Following this, he moved to another League One side, Burton Albion, on a season-long loan in June 2021, making 15 league appearances and two in the FA Cup before being recalled by Brentford in January 2022, during which he conceded 27 league goals and kept four clean sheets. Later that month, Balcombe was loaned to National League club Bromley until the end of the 2021–22 season, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper and played 19 matches, contributing to the club's FA Trophy victory—the first major silverware of his career.[2] These loans built his experience across multiple leagues, totaling over 60 senior appearances by mid-2022.[17] During the 2021–22 season, Balcombe achieved his first-team breakthrough at Brentford, who had earned promotion to the Premier League, by being named in the matchday squad as a backup goalkeeper, including several bench appearances in top-flight fixtures.[2]Senior appearances and mid-career loans (2022–2024)
Balcombe joined League Two club Crawley Town on a season-long loan from Brentford in July 2022. During the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, he made 12 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, keeping three clean sheets. He was recalled by his parent club in January 2023 following a strong run of form.[18][19] The goalkeeper immediately moved to League One side Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2022/23 season. Balcombe featured in 8 matches for the Gas, all in the league, and recorded three clean sheets while helping the team avoid relegation. His loan spell ended in May 2023, after which he returned to Brentford.[20] Back at Brentford for the 2023/24 season, Balcombe served as third-choice goalkeeper behind Mark Flekken and Thomas Strakosha. He made his senior debut for the club on 29 August 2023, starting in the EFL Cup first-round tie against Newport County. Balcombe saved two penalties during the shootout as Brentford progressed 5-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw. This was his only competitive appearance for Brentford during the campaign.[2][21][22] On 3 October 2023, Balcombe signed a new four-year contract with Brentford, committing his future to the club until June 2027 with an option to extend by a further year. The deal rewarded his progress through the academy and successful loan experiences.[23][24]Recent loans and return to Brentford (2024–present)
On 24 May 2024, Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe joined Scottish Premiership club St Mirren on a season-long loan for the 2024–25 campaign.[25] During his time at St Mirren, Balcombe established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, making 26 appearances across all competitions, including four in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers—his first experience in European football.[26] He was recalled by Brentford on 5 January 2025 to bolster the squad's options.[26] Following his recall, Balcombe was loaned to another Scottish Premiership side, Motherwell, on 23 January 2025, for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[27] At Motherwell, he featured in 12 matches, primarily in league action, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in the latter half of the campaign.[4] Across both loans in Scotland, Balcombe accumulated 38 appearances in total during the 2024–25 season, gaining valuable senior experience in a competitive environment.[28] Balcombe returned to Brentford ahead of the 2025–26 Premier League season, where he was assigned squad number 31.[29] As of 11 November 2025, he has not made any first-team appearances, serving as the third-choice goalkeeper behind new signing Caoimhín Kelleher and Hákon Valdimarsson.[30] Balcombe remains under contract with Brentford until June 2027.[1] In the summer transfer window of 2025, Balcombe was made available for loan by Brentford to further his development, amid reports of interest from several clubs, but no move materialized, and he stayed with the parent club.[31]International career
Youth international career
Balcombe earned three caps for the England under-18 team, making his debut in late 2016.[14][32] Balcombe represented England at under-19 level between 2017 and 2018, earning nine caps in total.[33] His performances contributed to the team's qualification for the 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where he was part of the squad for the finals in Finland but England were eliminated in the group stage.[34][35] Balcombe earned six caps for the England under-20 team, with notable appearances during international breaks. He was part of the squad that won the 2017 Toulon Tournament, featuring in the 2–1 group stage victory over Japan.[36] Balcombe returned for the 2019 edition of the tournament, featuring in the opening 1–1 draw with Japan and the 2–3 group stage loss to Portugal.[37][38] In total, Balcombe made 18 appearances across England's under-18, under-19, and under-20 teams.[4] He received his first call-up to the England under-21 squad in August 2019 ahead of European Championship qualifiers and has been included in several subsequent squads, including in June 2025, but has not made an appearance at this level as of November 2025.[39][40][41]Senior international career
Balcombe is eligible to represent the England senior national team by virtue of his birth in Bedfordshire, England, and his prior appearances for the country's youth teams up to under-21 level.[2] He also holds dual nationality, qualifying him for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through his heritage.[42] As of November 2025, Balcombe has yet to receive a senior international cap for either nation, despite his progression through England's youth ranks.[1] His experience at youth levels, including participation in tournaments like the Toulon Tournament, has established a foundation for potential senior aspirations.[2]Personal life
Heritage and family
Ellery Balcombe was born in Hertfordshire, England, to parents originating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, granting him dual heritage that connects his English upbringing to Caribbean roots.[10] This background has informed his eligibility for international representation, allowing potential selection for the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national team alongside his England youth caps. Balcombe was raised in Bedford, where he attended Castle Lower School. No public details have emerged regarding specific family members involved in sports or community activities in the Bedford or Watford areas, nor has Balcombe shared personal interests tied explicitly to his Caribbean ancestry in interviews or profiles.Awards and recognition outside football
In 2017, at the age of 17, Ellery Balcombe received the Outstanding Achiever Award at the Bedford Sports Awards, recognizing his exceptional contributions to youth sports and community involvement in Bedford.[10] This accolade highlighted his dedication beyond competitive play, including leadership in local youth initiatives during his time at Castle Lower School. In October 2025, Balcombe participated in a Brentford FC community engagement event in London, interacting with young people about football careers.[43]Career statistics
Club statistics
Ellery Balcombe's club career has primarily consisted of loan spells from Brentford, where he has yet to make a Premier League appearance. As of 19 November 2025, he has recorded no appearances in the 2025–26 season, with his most recent playing time during a mid-season loan to Motherwell in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership. Across all competitions, Balcombe has made 110 senior appearances, achieving 24 clean sheets while conceding approximately 170 goals.[44][3] Key breakdowns by competition include 0 appearances in the Premier League, 3 in the EFL Cup (2 for Brentford and 1 for Crawley Town), and 33 in the Scottish Premiership during 2024–25 (21 for St Mirren and 12 for Motherwell). His earlier loans were in English lower divisions, including the National League, League One, and League Two.[44][45] The following table summarizes his appearances, clean sheets, and goals conceded by season and club, focusing on senior matches across all competitions (data excludes youth and B-team games).| Season | Club | Appearances | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Boreham Wood (loan) | 8 | 1 | N/A |
| 2019–20 | Viborg FF (loan) | 8 | 5 | N/A |
| 2020–21 | Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 17 | 5 | 31 |
| 2021–22 | Burton Albion (loan) | 3 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021–22 | Bromley (loan) | 15 | 4 | 17 |
| 2022–23 | Crawley Town (loan) | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| 2022–23 | Bristol Rovers (loan) | 8 | 2 | 12 |
| 2023–24 | Brentford | 3* | 0 | 4 |
| 2024–25 | St Mirren (loan) | 26 | 3 | 40 |
| 2024–25 | Motherwell (loan) | 12 | 1 | 22 |
Sources for table data:[44][45][2]
International statistics
Ellery Balcombe has earned 18 caps for England youth teams, distributed across the under-18, under-19, and under-20 levels, with no appearances for the under-21 side.[42] His international youth career featured notable performances in competitive tournaments, including the 2017 Toulon Tournament, where he contributed to England's title-winning campaign. As of November 2025, Balcombe has no senior international appearances.[46] The following table summarizes Balcombe's youth international statistics by age group:| Age Group | Appearances (Caps) | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| U18 | 3 | Not specified | Not specified |
| U19 | 9 | Not specified | Not specified |
| U20 | 6 | Not specified | Not specified |
| U21 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Total | 18 | Not specified | Not specified |
Honours
BromleyFA Trophy: 2021–22[5] England U20
Toulon Tournament: 2017[49] England U18
International Trophy: 2016[50]
