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Ellery Balcombe
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

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Brentford

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Youth years (2014–2018)

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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

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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

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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

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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+12-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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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As of match played 16 February 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Danish Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  5. ^ Appearances in Conference League

Honours

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England U20

England U18

  • International Trophy: 2016[69]

Bromley

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Ellery Ronald Balcombe (born 15 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brentford. Balcombe began his youth career at Stevenage before joining Brentford at the age of eight, progressing through the club's academy to sign his first professional contract in 2018. He made his senior debut for Brentford on 29 August 2023 in an EFL Cup second-round match against Newport County and has since featured sporadically for the first team, including as third-choice goalkeeper during the 2023/24 season behind Mark Flekken and Thomas Strakosha. To gain experience, Balcombe has undertaken multiple loan spells, including stints at Doncaster Rovers (2021), Burton Albion (2021–22), Bromley (2022), Crawley Town (2022), Bristol Rovers (2023), St Mirren (2024, until January 2025), and Motherwell (January–May 2025), where he made 21 appearances in the Scottish Premiership during his time at St Mirren and contributed to several key matches at Motherwell, before returning to Brentford in summer 2025. Among his notable achievements, Balcombe won the with Bromley in 2022, starting in the 1–0 final victory over at and making crucial saves, including a match-winning stop in stoppage time. Internationally, he represented at youth levels, earning caps for the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 teams, and was part of the U20 squad that won the .

Early life

Childhood and family background

Ellery Balcombe was born on 15 October 1999 in , , . Balcombe is of descent through his parents. He gained his initial exposure to football through community-based youth activities in , including stints with local teams like Bedford Panthers.

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. His involvement in school sports programs helped foster discipline and teamwork. Balcombe's introduction to competitive football began through local clubs in , 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. This early exposure to organized play was supplemented by a brief stint in FC's youth setup, offering more structured development and exposure to higher-level competition in the region. 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 at age 8 in 2007. Shortly after joining, Balcombe featured prominently for Brentford's U15 side in the 2014 Milk Cup international youth tournament in , where he contributed to victories including a 4-0 win over and a 4-2 triumph against , gaining valuable international exposure early in his academy tenure.

Club career

Brentford academy and youth development (2014–2018)

Ellery Balcombe joined 's academy at the age of eight after beginning his youth career at , 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. 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 to bridge the gap to 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. Balcombe's form in the led to his first professional contract, signed on 15 October 2016—his 17th birthday—securing his place in squad until the end of the 2018–19 season. Over the next two years, he accumulated 53 appearances for across various competitions, solidifying his role as a key prospect and occasionally training with the first-team squad. His achievements were recognized with youth international call-ups, including an Under-18 debut against 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.

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. In the summer of 2019, Balcombe joined club on loan until January 2020, during which he featured in eight league games, conceding six goals and securing three clean sheets. His contributions contributed to 's successful promotion to the as champions of the 2019–20 1st Division. 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 Rovers until the end of the 2020–21 season, establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper with 17 appearances across all competitions. 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 before being recalled by 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 victory—the first major silverware of his career. These loans built his experience across multiple leagues, totaling over 60 senior appearances by mid-2022. During the 2021–22 season, Balcombe achieved his first-team breakthrough at , who had earned promotion to the , by being named in the matchday squad as a backup , including several bench appearances in top-flight fixtures.

Senior appearances and mid-career loans (2022–2024)

Balcombe joined League Two club Crawley Town on a season-long loan from 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. 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 . Back at for the 2023/24 season, Balcombe served as third-choice goalkeeper behind and . He made his senior debut for the club on 29 August 2023, starting in the first-round tie against Newport County. Balcombe saved two penalties during the shootout as progressed 5-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw. This was his only competitive appearance for during the campaign. On 3 October 2023, Balcombe signed a new four-year contract with , 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 and successful experiences.

Recent loans and return to Brentford (2024–present)

On 24 May 2024, goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe joined club St Mirren on a season-long for the 2024–25 campaign. 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. He was recalled by on 5 January 2025 to bolster the squad's options. Following his recall, Balcombe was loaned to another Scottish Premiership side, , on 23 January 2025, for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. At , he featured in 12 matches, primarily in league action, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in the latter half of the campaign. Across both loans in , Balcombe accumulated 38 appearances in total during the 2024–25 season, gaining valuable senior experience in a competitive environment. Balcombe returned to ahead of the 2025–26 season, where he was assigned squad number 31. As of 11 November 2025, he has not made any first-team appearances, serving as the third-choice behind new signing and Hákon Valdimarsson. Balcombe remains under contract with until June 2027. In the summer of 2025, was made available for by to further his development, amid reports of interest from several clubs, but no move materialized, and he stayed with the parent club.

International career

Youth international career

earned three caps for the under-18 team, making his debut in late 2016. Balcombe represented at under-19 level between 2017 and 2018, earning nine caps in total. His performances contributed to the team's qualification for the , where he was part of the squad for the finals in but England were eliminated in the group stage. 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 , featuring in the 2–1 group stage victory over . Balcombe returned for the 2019 edition of the tournament, featuring in the opening 1–1 draw with and the 2–3 group stage loss to . In total, Balcombe made 18 appearances across England's under-18, under-19, and under-20 teams. 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.

Senior international career

Balcombe is eligible to represent the senior national team by virtue of his birth in , , and his prior appearances for the country's teams up to under-21 level. He also holds dual , qualifying him for through his heritage. As of November 2025, Balcombe has yet to receive a senior international for either nation, despite his progression through 's ranks. His experience at levels, including participation in tournaments like the Toulon Tournament, has established a foundation for potential senior aspirations.

Personal life

Heritage and family

Ellery Balcombe was born in , , to parents originating from , granting him dual heritage that connects his English upbringing to roots. This background has informed his eligibility for international representation, allowing potential selection for the national team alongside his England youth caps. Balcombe was raised in , 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 areas, nor has Balcombe shared personal interests tied explicitly to his 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 Sports Awards, recognizing his exceptional contributions to and community involvement in . This accolade highlighted his dedication beyond competitive play, including leadership in local initiatives during his time at Castle Lower School. In October 2025, Balcombe participated in a community engagement event in , interacting with young people about football careers.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Ellery Balcombe's club career has primarily consisted of loan spells from , where he has yet to make a 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 to in the 2024–25 . Across all competitions, Balcombe has made 110 senior appearances, achieving 24 clean sheets while conceding approximately 170 goals. Key breakdowns by competition include 0 appearances in the , 3 in the (2 for and 1 for Crawley Town), and 33 in the during 2024–25 (21 for St Mirren and 12 for ). His earlier loans were in English lower divisions, including the National League, League One, and League Two. 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).
SeasonClubAppearancesClean SheetsGoals Conceded
2018–19Boreham Wood (loan)81N/A
2019–20Viborg FF (loan)85N/A
2020–21Doncaster Rovers (loan)17531
2021–22Burton Albion (loan)30N/A
2021–22Bromley (loan)15417
2022–23Crawley Town (loan)10313
2022–23Bristol Rovers (loan)8212
2023–24Brentford3*04
2024–25St Mirren (loan)26340
2024–25Motherwell (loan)12122
*EFL Cup appearances for .
Sources for table data:

International statistics

Ellery Balcombe has earned 18 caps for youth teams, distributed across the under-18, under-19, and under-20 levels, with no appearances for the under-21 side. His international youth career featured notable performances in competitive tournaments, including the , where he contributed to 's title-winning campaign. As of November 2025, Balcombe has no senior international appearances. The following table summarizes Balcombe's youth international statistics by age group:
Age GroupAppearances (Caps)Goals ConcededClean Sheets
U183Not specifiedNot specified
U199Not specifiedNot specified
U206Not specifiedNot specified
U210N/AN/A
Total18Not specifiedNot specified
In the , Balcombe recorded 4 appearances, conceding goals in only one match while securing 3 clean sheets, aiding England's successful defense of the title. His selections for youth squads were occasionally influenced by strong club form at Brentford's academy.

Honours

Bromley
FA Trophy: 2021–22
England U20
Toulon Tournament: 2017
England U18
International Trophy: 2016

References

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