Why Girls' Football in Chester and Cheshire is Growing
The growth of women's and girls' football across England has been one of the most significant developments in the sport over the past decade. Following the Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph and the growing visibility of the Women's Super League, participation in girls' football at grassroots level across Chester, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and across Cheshire has increased substantially.
More girls are now playing in organised teams from as young as U6 level. More clubs across Cheshire are running dedicated girls' sections. And more parents are recognising that their daughters deserve access to the same quality of individual coaching support that has always been available — and expected — for boys of the same age and ability.
But alongside this growth comes a challenge that many parents quickly encounter: finding a coach in Chester or across Cheshire who has genuine, specialist experience coaching female players — not just general football coaching experience applied to girls — and who understands the specific technical, physical and psychological needs of female footballers at different stages of development.
Female footballers deserve coaching that is built specifically around their needs — not a version of boys' coaching adapted for girls. The technical and psychological elements of developing a female player require specific knowledge and experience that genuinely specialist coaching provides.
Why Specialist Women's Football Coaching Experience Matters
Not all football coaching is equal when it comes to developing female players. The most effective coaching for girls and women is built around an understanding of the specific ways in which female players develop technically, physically and psychologically — and how those differences should inform the design of sessions, the language used in coaching and the environment created for development.
The common myths about girls' football coaching
What Specialist Women's & Girls' Coaching Looks Like in Practice
Martin's work as Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women gives him a level of specialist knowledge of female football development that is exceptionally rare in a personal coaching environment in Chester and across Cheshire. Here is what that specialist experience brings to individual coaching sessions for female players:
About Martin — Head Coach Wigan Athletic Women
Martin is a UEFA B qualified football coach currently serving as Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women — a semi-professional women's football club competing in the FA Women's National League, the fourth tier of the English women's football pyramid. This is an active, professional coaching role that Martin holds alongside his personal coaching work in Chester and across Cheshire.
His 15 years of coaching experience spans grassroots football, academy environments, adult football and women's football development — making him one of a very small number of personal coaches in Chester and Cheshire who combines UEFA B qualification with current professional women's football coaching experience at semi-professional level.
For parents in Chester and across Cheshire looking for a football coach for their daughter, Martin's combination of professional women's football coaching experience and individual session expertise represents one of the strongest coaching profiles available in the area.
- UEFA B qualified — professional level coaching qualification recognised across Europe
- Current Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women — active professional women's football role
- 15 years coaching experience across grassroots, academy, adult and women's environments
- Experience coaching female players from U6 through to senior women's level
- Enhanced DBS checked — all safeguarding requirements met
- Positive, encouraging coaching environment built specifically for female player development
Girls' Football Coaching by Age Group in Chester & Cheshire
Martin provides personal football coaching sessions for female players across all age groups — from young children just starting their football journey through to adult players looking to improve specific aspects of their game. Here is how sessions are structured across different age groups:
What Parents of Female Players Say About Martin's Coaching
Martin's 1-to-1 coaching sessions in Chester have received five-star reviews from parents of female players across Chester and Cheshire. Here is what they say:
"We've had a couple of excellent training sessions with Martin for my daughter. A good variation of drills and really attentive of areas to improve. She finds the sessions very enjoyable, engaging and definitely puts the effort in."
"The progress my daughter has made has been incredible. Her touch, control, and overall confidence have improved massively, and she's now impacting games regularly with goals and assists. Most importantly, she loves the sessions and always comes home smiling."
"Working with Martin has genuinely elevated my game. His coaching is tailored specifically to me — not just as a player but as a person. Every session had clear purpose, pushing my strengths while improving the areas I needed most."
Where Martin Coaches in Chester and Frodsham
Martin provides personal football coaching sessions for female players at two venues across Chester and Frodsham — both easily accessible for families across the CH and WA postcode areas of Cheshire.
Areas served across Cheshire
Book a Girls' Football Coaching Session with Martin
UEFA B qualified coach and Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women providing specialist 1-to-1 coaching sessions for female players across Chester and Cheshire. Sessions at Frodsham (WA6) and Westminster Park (CH4).
View Martin's Coaching Page →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from parents of female footballers in Chester and across Cheshire.
Is personal football coaching available for girls in Chester and Cheshire?
Yes — Martin provides specialist personal football coaching sessions for female players of all ages and abilities across Chester, Frodsham and Cheshire. As current Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women, Martin brings a level of specialist women's football development knowledge and experience to individual coaching sessions that is extremely rare in a personal coaching environment in Chester or across Cheshire. Sessions are available at Frodsham Primary Academy (WA6 7PZ) and Westminster Park, Chester (CH4 7QS).
Why is specialist women's and girls' football coaching important?
Female footballers develop technically, physically and psychologically in specific ways that differ from male players — and the best coaching for female players reflects those differences in session design, communication approach and development priorities. A coach with genuine specialist experience in women's and girls' football understands these differences and applies that understanding in every session. Martin's active role as Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women means he brings current, professional-level women's football development knowledge directly to every personal coaching session in Chester and Cheshire.
What age groups does Martin coach for girls' football in Chester?
Martin coaches female players from U6 through to senior women's level across Chester and Cheshire. Sessions for younger players (U6-U8) focus on building confidence, coordination and love of the game. Sessions for U9-U12 players develop technical foundations alongside game intelligence. Sessions for U13-U16 players focus on advanced technical and tactical development. Adult women's sessions cover technical refinement, position-specific coaching and football fitness. Every session is tailored entirely around the individual player's age, current level and development goals.
Can Martin help my daughter get into women's academy football?
Yes — Martin's background as Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women and his 15 years of coaching experience across women's and girls' football development environments makes him exceptionally well placed to support female players targeting academy or semi-professional football in Cheshire and the North West. He understands the technical, tactical and psychological standards required at academy and semi-professional level in women's football — and his individual coaching sessions are designed to develop those attributes specifically.
Is personal football coaching suitable for girls who are complete beginners?
Yes — Martin works with female players at every level including complete beginners who are just starting football. For beginner players, sessions focus on building confidence on the ball, developing basic technical skills and creating a positive experience of football in a fun and supportive environment. The personal coaching format is particularly well suited to beginners because every session is tailored entirely around the individual player — meaning there is no pressure to keep up with others or worry about performing in front of peers.
How does personal coaching for girls differ from team training?
In team training, a coach divides attention across 15 or more players — meaning each individual player receives limited personal feedback and limited time with the ball. In a 1-to-1 session with Martin, every minute is focused entirely on one player — her specific technical strengths, her development areas and her individual goals. This focused individual attention is particularly valuable for female players who may find it harder to speak up or ask questions in a group environment, and who benefit from the confidence-building that comes from working one-on-one with a positive and supportive coach.
Is personal girls' football coaching available in Ellesmere Port and Runcorn?
Yes — Frodsham Primary Academy (WA6 7PZ) is conveniently located for female players travelling from Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Helsby, Northwich and across the WA and CH postcode areas. Many female players and their families from these areas already attend Martin's sessions at Frodsham, making it one of the most accessible specialist women's football coaching venues in the area. Westminster Park in Chester (CH4 7QS) is also accessible for players from across Chester city and surrounding areas.
What qualifications does Martin hold as a girls' football coach?
Martin holds a UEFA B coaching licence — a professional-level coaching qualification recognised across Europe — alongside 15 years of coaching experience across grassroots, academy, adult and women's football. He is currently Head Coach of Wigan Athletic Women, an FA Women's National League club, giving him an active professional women's football coaching role that he brings directly into every personal coaching session. He is also Enhanced DBS checked, meeting all safeguarding requirements for working with children and young people.
