Rahul Kumar:
Chiswick & SOuthall Academy
From local kick-abouts to owning multiple We Make Footballers academies, Rahul has turned a lifelong love of football into a full-time coaching career and thriving West London business.
From local player to professional coach
Rahul has “played football nearabout all my life”. What started as kick-abouts with friends in the local area turned into helping at sessions and then formal coaching roles. Watching children play, improve and make friends gave him the same buzz he felt when he was on the pitch himself.
He joined We Make Footballers as a coach and quickly became known for his high-energy sessions and ability to connect with players of all abilities. Over time he progressed to Academy Manager and, in 2017, took the step into franchise ownership by leading the Southall academy.
More recently, Rahul purchased the Chiswick franchise from long-standing owner Marcelo, who had successfully run the academy for over five years. Rahul has built on that foundation, bringing his own passion and ideas while keeping the strong community feel Marcelo created.
Today Rahul oversees We Make Footballers in Chiswick, Southall and Slough – building programmes where 4–13 year olds can fall in love with football, whatever their starting point.
From 1-on-1 coach to multi-academy leader
Rahul is a Senior Coach and 1-on-1 specialist, trusted to deliver tailored, high-intensity individual sessions that push players to the next level. His trademark is high energy – lots of touches, constant movement and detailed feedback that builds confidence as well as technique.
On top of this, he now runs full academy programmes across three locations – Chiswick, Southall and Slough – delivering weekly training and camps to children aged 4–13. Each session is built around the We Make Footballers syllabus, ensuring consistent standards while still allowing Rahul and his team to bring their own personality and flair to the pitch.
Measuring success beyond the numbers
Every player Rahul works with has their own story – but a few simple stats show the scale of impact a passionate coach can have when they plug into the We Make Footballers system.
First academy launched
Active Students
Average renewal rate
Academies led
How Rahul built their football coaching franchise
2017
2017: Rahul becomes Academy Manager and Franchise Owner of We Make Footballers Southall, offering weekly training and camps for young players and creating more opportunity in the local community.
2018-2022
As his experience grows, Rahul takes on a wider role across West London, delivering high-energy group sessions and in-demand 1-on-1 coaching while helping more players progress into grassroots teams.
2023
Seeing strong demand for quality coaching further west, Rahul launches the Slough academy, bringing We Make Footballers’ approach to a new group of players and parents.
2024
Rahul purchases the Chiswick franchise from Marcelo, who had successfully run the academy for over five years. Rahul maintains the strong culture Marcelo built while introducing fresh ideas, new programmes and closer links with his other academies.
A day in the life of a football coach
Running multiple We Make Footballers academies means juggling business responsibilities with time on the pitch. Here’s what a typical training day looks like for Rahul.
Planning, parents and programmes
Rahul starts the day reviewing bookings, trial requests and enquiries for Chiswick, Southall and Slough. He checks which sessions are close to capacity, organises coaches and confirms venue details. A chunk of time goes into speaking with parents, answering questions and making sure new players feel welcome before they even arrive. He then refines session plans using the We Make Footballers syllabus so every group has a clear focus for that evening.
High-energy sessions on the pitch
By late afternoon, Rahul is at the venue greeting players by name. Sessions are intense but fun – lots of ball-mastery, 1v1s and small-sided games, with encouragement and clear coaching points throughout. Between drills he is constantly watching how individuals respond, making mental notes for future 1-on-1 work or progression into grassroots and academy pathways. When the final whistle blows, he is tired but already looking forward to the next group.
“Watching kids play makes me want to go back and play again. Football is where you find friends and find your passion. I never thought I would end up a coach, but staying in football and helping young players every week has been the best decision I have made.”
Ready to start your football coaching adventure?
Rahul’s story shows what can happen when you combine a love of football with a proven coaching system and strong support from head office. Whether you already coach or simply want a new direction, a We Make Footballers franchise can help you build a sustainable academy in your own community.
