JONATHAN TOOTLE
Widnes,Cheshire
Summary
Entrepreneur and renowned football boot specialist who founded and scaled Tootsboots Ltd (2011–present), the UK's original and leading independent football boot modification business, generating over £1,000,000 in cumulative turnover. Deeply embedded in the elite professional game for 15 years, with extensive knowledge of football boot design, performance requirements and culture — both on and off the pitch. Bring a fresh, non-corporate perspective, an irrepressible work ethic and a proven ability to perform under pressure and deliver on short turnarounds. Vast experience communicating with players, agents, brands, club staff and manufacturers in Asia on complex product development. Keen to join a highly respected and talented team of people at On and help them bring the brand into the world of football in the best way possible.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Company Director
Tootsboots Ltd
01.2011 - Current
- Built and led the business from inception across strategy, product development, client relationships, operations and quality control.
- Positioned the company as the go-to specialist for players and brands seeking solutions outside standard production runs.
- Developed proprietary modification techniques delivering professional-grade results previously only available inside club or brand facilities.
- Worked directly with elite athletes including Declan Rice, David Silva, Kyle Walker, Daniele De Rossi, Gabriel Jesus, Vinicius Junior, Chloe Kelly, Mateo Kovačić, Marc Guehi, Rasmus Højlund, Anthony Gordon and many others.
- Collaborated with kit staff and performance teams at top European clubs to solve fit, traction, weight and aesthetic challenges under match-day pressure.
- Managed complex technical discussions with manufacturers in Asia when developing new products for Tootsboots.
Education
MSc - Environmental Planning
Liverpool John Moores University 2010-2011
BSc - Urban Planning
Liverpool John Moores University 2007-2010
Skills
- Elite football boot modifications & performance solutions
- Deep knowledge of football boot design, performance and culture (on and off the pitch)
- Athlete relationship management at the highest level
- Brand collaboration and product insight
- Communication with manufacturers in Asia (complex product development)
- High performance under pressure and short turnarounds
- Entrepreneurial leadership and business building
- Fresh perspective from outside traditional corporate structures
- Innovation applied to real-world performance demands
- Deeply connected and woven into the Elite Professional Game
- Irrepressible work ethic and a positive can-do attitude
Accomplishments
- Founded and built Tootsboots Ltd into the UK's #1 award-winning football boot modification specialist, creating an entirely new commercial category at professional level.
- Generated cumulative turnover exceeding £1,000,000 while maintaining a lean, high-precision operation trusted by elite clients.
- Developed a complete range of advanced boot modification skills entirely through self-directed learning over 15 years, encompassing tool work, stitching, gluing, dyeing and related technical processes.
- Delivered highly technical modifications (blackouts, soleplate modifications, tongue alterations, stretching, injury-specific modifications) to the exacting standards of top-flight players and club kit staff, often under tight deadlines.
- Built long-term relationships with global brands including Adidas, Puma, Umbro, EA Sports, Football Manager and Panini.
- Built long term relationships with World-Class athletes as the 'go-to' guy when the brands can't/won't help
- Influenced the football boot market by tapping into my knowledge of football boot culture to create trends which brands went onto emulate in later releases
- Completed demanding tasks for major brands and their biggest ambassadors
ELITE CLIENTS & BRAND COLLABORATIONS
- Players (selected): Declan Rice, David Silva, Kyle Walker, Daniele De Rossi, Gabriel Jesus, Vinicius Junior, Chloe Kelly, Mateo Kovačić, Marc Guehi, Rasmus Højlund, Anthony Gordon, and numerous other Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and international players.
- Brands: Adidas, Puma, Umbro, EA Sports, Football Manager, Panini.
MEDIA & RECOGNITION
Featured guest LIVE on TalkSPORT – Hawksbee and Jacobs, Profiled in The Athletic: "The Secret World of Football Boots" (Stuart James), Winner – Small Business of the Year 2018, The Small Awards, London
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
www.linkedin.com/in/jonathantootle88 www.tootsboots.co.uk
Timeline
Founder & Company Director
Tootsboots Ltd
01.2011 - Current
MSc - Environmental Planning
Liverpool John Moores University 2010-2011
BSc - Urban Planning
Liverpool John Moores University 2007-2010