Our Mission
At On the Pitch Coaching, our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of footballers through dynamic, innovative, and engaging coaching. Our young, passionate coaches are dedicated to fostering a love for the game, developing fundamental skills, and promoting teamwork and sportsmanship in a supportive and inclusive environment. We strive to unlock each player's potential, both on and off the field, by instilling confidence, discipline, and a lifelong enthusiasm for football.
Get to Know Us
Our team
nathan Woodthorpe
Chester FC
I started out in grass roots football with Kingsmead JFC and signed for Crewe Academy aged 8 after a successful trial period.
After 9 years at Crewe I signed a 2 year scholarship which then led to a 2 year professional contract making my professional debut in that time. However being a footballer comes with its complications, injury was mine and after making my debut I then faced the challenge of a long term-potential career ending injury which saw my contract come to an end with no renewal.
Luckily I have just managed to come out of the other-side after 385 days out and I am now playing semi-professional for Chester FC and looking forward to enjoying my journey in football.
With 385 days to think of my options I looked towards coaching which has turned out to be a massive passion of mine.
I have over 5+ years of coaching experience at various ages and level’s and I’m looking forward to starting this new journey and helping more players develop.
Certifications:
UEFA B
Ollie Heywood
Chester FC
At the age of 6, I joined my local junior team Northwich Victoria and instantly fell in love with the game of football.
Soon after, I began training with Stoke City’s Development Squad and signed a contract with their academy just days after my 10th birthday.
After a fantastic 6 seasons at Stoke, I suffered my first major footballing setback when I was not offered a scholarship midway through my U16 season.
Unsuccessful trials with multiple top academies including Leicester City, Burnley, Watford, Fleetwood Town, and Shrewsbury Town led to me believing that my dream was over and I found myself slowly losing my love for the game.
Chester FC saved me from this heartbreak by giving me the opportunity to join their scholarship programme, where I have played for the past three seasons after signing my first senior contract midway through the 2021/22 season.
The club also allowed me to pursue my passion for coaching through their Community Trust, which only enhanced my love for developing players even more! I am now an FA Qualified coach aiming to help young players achieve their dreams.
Certifications:
FA Qualified
Owen german
Alrincham FC
I began my footballing journey from a very young age, playing for my local club Cuddington and Sandiway Juniors. This led to me being picked up by Crewe Alexandra.
After 10 years at Crewe I had my first major footballing setback when I wasn’t offered a scholarship.
After multiple trials that led to nothing, I was offered a scholarship by Altrincham! Everything felt right to me and I thought the club would give me the best opportunity to go and achieve my dream of being a professional footballer.
Hard work and dedication led to me making my first team debut for Altrincham at the age of 17, followed by me signing my first professional contract at the age of 18.
I’ve always had a passion for coaching, starting off coaching futsal for youngsters in the Northwich area. I then moved on to coaching Altrincham Juniors, and I am now a lead coach for OnThePitch! I am an FA qualified coach who wants to help pass on my knowledge to young and inspiring players, helping them achieve the dreams.
Certifications:
FA Qualified
Our Story
While playing at the professional level, we often discussed the idea of creating a coaching business that would not only focus on skill development but also on fostering a love for the game and promoting values like teamwork and sportsmanship. We recognised a gap in youth coaching—many programs were either too rigid or lacked the comprehensive approach we envisioned.
Concept Development
In the off-seasons, we began to sketch out our vision for On the Pitch Coaching. We wanted to combine our professional experience with innovative coaching methods. We aimed to create a program that was engaging and inclusive, providing young players with the tools and confidence to succeed both on and off the pitch.
Launching the Business
With our professional networks and a strong reputation in the football community, We were able to attract initial interest and support. We pooled our resources, sought advice from mentors in the sports and business world, and officially launched On the Pitch Coaching.