In youth soccer, facilities and league participation do not determine the quality of development.
Leadership does.
The experience, qualifications, and standards of those guiding training environments shape how players improve and how far they can progress.
NCE Soccer is built around a leadership team with deep professional experience and the highest coaching credentials in the game. This structure ensures that development environments reflect real performance standards rather than recreational participation models.
John Curtis — Founder & CEO
NCE Soccer was founded by John Curtis, a former Premier League defender whose development began in the elite academy system of Manchester United.
John was a key member of the club’s FA Youth Cup-winning team and was later named Manchester United’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year. Across a 15-year professional career, he made more than 300 appearances in English football, representing clubs including Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, and Nottingham Forest.
Internationally, John remains the most capped England Schoolboy of all time and captained England youth teams from U15 through U20 levels.
After retiring, John worked within elite development environments across England, Italy, and Australia before founding NCE Soccer. His goal was to create an independent, high-performance pathway free from the politics and fragmentation often present in American youth soccer.
John holds both the UEFA A License and the U.S. Soccer A License and serves as a U.S. Soccer Coach Educator.
Paul Buckle — Director of Professional Development
Directly overseeing NCE’s professional standards is Paul Buckle, the organization’s most senior and extensively qualified coach. Paul leads national coaching methodology and performance expectations across all NCE programs.
Paul’s career spans more than two decades in the English and U.S. professional game as both a player and manager. He is best known for leading Torquay United to promotion to the English Football League and guiding the club to a League Two Playoff Final at Wembley Stadium.
Elite Global Coaching Credentials
Paul is one of a very small number of coaches worldwide to hold both:
- UEFA Pro License
- U.S. Soccer Federation Pro License
These are the highest coaching qualifications available. Holding both licenses places Paul in an exceptionally rare global category of dual-certified Pro coaches.
Raising Standards Across the NCE Pathway
Paul’s leadership ensures that NCE training environments reflect the demands of the professional game, emphasizing:
- Tactical structure and discipline
- Speed of decision-making
- Positional accountability
- Mental resilience under pressure
- Training intensity aligned with match demands
Lee Broster — Head of Program Development
Lee Broster oversees curriculum design, specialist training structure, and the implementation of professional standards across all NCE regions. He holds both the prestigious UEFA B License and the FA Advanced Youth Award.
Lee brings extensive professional academy experience from England, where he established a strong reputation for developing elite young goalkeepers who progressed to professional contracts.
Leadership in Program Design
At NCE, Lee works with national leadership to:
- Design structured training curricula
- Align session methodology across regions
- Develop specialist position-specific programs
- Mentor developing coaches
Specialist Goalkeeper Development
Lee also directs NCE’s specialist goalkeeper programming, focusing on technical handling, positioning, and psychological resilience. Training environments are designed to replicate match demands and accelerate position-specific learning.
Regional Directors Delivering National Standards
Supporting national leadership is a group of experienced regional directors who bring professional and elite development backgrounds into their local environments.
Scott Middlemass — North Atlantic Regional Director: Scott brings over 15 years of professional playing experience across England, Norway, the United States, and China.
Hugo Guzman — New York Regional Director: Hugo brings more than 15 years of elite youth coaching experience, including MLS academy environments. He holds the USSF A License and the U.S. Soccer Academy Director License.
Brian Wright — Southern California Regional Director: Brian combines collegiate playing experience and NCAA coaching expertise. He holds the U.S. Soccer A-Senior License and emphasizes intelligent, confident play under pressure.
A Leadership Structure Built on Professional Standards
Across NCE Soccer, leadership experience reflects authentic professional environments combined with the highest levels of coaching education.
This ensures:
- Training reflects real match demands
- Standards remain consistent nationwide
- Players develop within a structured pathway
- Environments prioritize long-term growth
For families serious about development, leadership quality is one of the most important factors in choosing the right environment.
Full staff bios and qualifications are available on the NCE Soccer About Page.
