JB17 Performance JB17 Performance
Coaches

Meet the coaches.

A small, deliberate team with top-level playing experience — working with serious players across Wales and beyond.

At a glance

  • 12+ year professional playing career
  • Played in seven countries across four continents
  • UEFA B Licence holder
  • Established 2023, based in Bridgend, South Wales
  • 1:1 and group coaching for boys and girls
  • Known for energy, focus and professionalism

The coaching team

Each coach brings their own story. All of them share the same standards.

Jonathan Brown Founder

Jonathan Brown

Founder & head coach

Former Cardiff City academy player. 12+ year professional career, UEFA B Licence holder, seven countries played.

Full coach profiles coming soon — awaiting bios and photos.

Meet the founder

Jonathan Brown — Cardiff City academy graduate, 12+ years professional career, UEFA B Licence holder, Wales youth international.

I came through the Cardiff City academy from the age of eleven, training alongside Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. I made my senior debut for Cardiff in February 2008, and over the 12+ years that followed the game took me to clubs in seven countries across four continents.

I played in the English non-league with Wrexham, Hereford, Southport, Bath City and AFC Telford; in Australia with Central Coast Mariners; in Belgium and Thailand; and in Bangladesh with Abahani Limited Dhaka, where I was fortunate enough to win the Bangladesh Premier League in 2015–16. Back in the States, I spent two spells with Oklahoma City Energy FC in the USL and a season with Hartford Athletic.

After hanging up my boots at Penybont in 2023, I set up JB17 Performance to pass on what a career like that teaches you — not the glamorous parts, but the daily habits that actually move a player forward. The technique. The decision-making. The mentality to keep turning up when nothing's clicking.

Our methodology

Rooted in UEFA principles, sharpened by 12+ years in the professional game.

Our training is rooted in proven UEFA-licence principles and 12+ years of professional playing experience — delivered through holistic, player-centred development.

We balance technical skills (dribbling, passing, shooting), tactical awareness (positioning, decision-making), physical conditioning (speed, strength) and psychological growth (focus, resilience).

Sessions begin with dynamic warm-ups, followed by progressive drills that build from foundations to game-like scenarios — ensuring fun and engagement at every level.

Advanced and academy groups add competitive simulations. 1:1 sessions deliver hyper-personalised feedback. Girls-only groups prioritise inclusion and confidence. Every plan adapts to the individual.

Jonathan's career

  1. 2001 Joined Cardiff City academy (age 11)
  2. Feb 2008 Senior debut for Cardiff City vs Coventry (age 17)
  3. 2008–09 Loan to Wrexham — 27 apps, 4 goals
  4. 2011–15 Non-league England, Australia (Central Coast Mariners), Belgium, Thailand
  5. 2015–16 Abahani Limited Dhaka — Bangladesh Premier League champion
  6. 2017–18 Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL)
  7. 2019 Hartford Athletic (USL)
  8. 2020 Return to Oklahoma City Energy FC
  9. 2021–23 Merthyr Town, Penybont (Cymru Premier) — retirement
  10. 2023 Founded JB17 Performance in Bridgend

Selected highlights — the full CV has a few more stops.

Supporting performance

Small habits that compound. The fundamentals we share with our players.

Pre-training fuel

A balanced meal 2–4 hours before training or a match — rich in carbs (pasta, rice) and moderate in protein (chicken, eggs) to boost energy and stamina.

Recovery

Within 30 minutes of activity, a snack or meal combining protein (yoghurt, lean meat) with carbs (fruit, bread) to aid muscle repair.

Smart snacks

Nutrient-dense, portable options: bananas, granola bars, nuts. Keep energy up between sessions or during tournaments.

Sleep

Seven to nine hours of sleep plus a small evening snack (milk, whole-grain toast). Recovery happens when you rest.

On the plate

Aim for 50% carbs (whole grains), 25% protein (fish, chicken) and 25% colourful vegetables to support performance and health.

Our credentials

UEFA B Licence holder. DBS-checked and safeguarding-certified. 12+ years of professional playing experience across seven countries — bringing elite-level standards into every session.

What players say

Testimonials from players and parents will appear here once we've gathered a few.

Think we could help?

Drop a line — tell us your age, position, and what you're working on. We'll come back to you.

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