Position : -Management

Colin is a former Premier League player with Norwich City, who also brings invaluable managerial knowhow as the former No.2 at AFC Fylde in the National League. He has proved to be the perfect right hand man for Calum McIntyre.

As well as playing at the top-level with the Canaries - likewise in Scotland for Aberdeen - the now 51-year-old Liverpudlian boasts a high level of managerial success in the top echelons of the non-league game.

Assisting manager Dave Challinor at Colwyn Bay, former left back Colin helped the Seagulls gain promotion to Conference (now National League) North.

Colin then aided the rise through the divisions of AFC Fylde, again as right-hand man to former Tranmere Rovers midfielder Challinor.

Colin's marathon professional career in English and Scottish football ran from 1986-87 to the end of 2007-08.

His senior debut, however, had come in 1985-86 - as a 17-year-old Chester City apprentice who was handed his first-team chance in a Freight Rover Trophy tie at Rochdale.

A Football League opportunity followed the season after, Colin ending that campaign with 30 league starts and two goals. He scored in the Northern final of the Freight Rover Trophy as Chester lost 2-1 on aggregate to Mansfield Town.

Establishing a regular position and not missing a game in 1989-90 season, his last at Chester (after almost 200 appearances), Colin's quality earned him a six-figure move to Norwich.

In four years at Carrow Road, standout moments included facing Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup (1993), an FA Cup semi-final against Sunderland (1992) and scoring in a 3–0 win over Liverpool (1991).

The £400,000 move to Aberdeen in 1994 brought further European adventures. Colin's three years at Pittodrie, the only injury-dogged spell of his career, ended with a return to his native North West of England in 1997.

The destination was Stockport County, newly promoted to Division One (now Championship). The club would remain at that level until 2002, Colin becoming club captain.

A free transfer to Bury for 2002-03 saw Colin make the Division Three play-offs with the Shakers at the first attempt.

He remained a mainstay in the Shakers' defence as the side's elder statesman until his release and retirement from playing in May 2008, aged 39.

A new chapter, in football mannagenent, was opened in May 2010 as Colin was appointed assistant to Dave Challinor at then NPL Premier Division club Colwyn Bay. Their runners-up finish led to promotion via the play-offs.

The management duo moved in summer 2012 to AFC Fylde. Various promotions over eight years saw the burgeoning Lancastrians into the National League Premier Division and to a 2019 FA Trophy win at Wembley against Leyton Orient.

The pair left AFC Fylde in October and on being appointed Linnets manager in the summer of 2020, Calum McIntyre was able to tempt Colin back into football.

Colin departed in summer 2022 to become assistant at Chester when Calum McIntyre was appointed manager of the National League North club.

Colin Woodthorpe is not available for sponsorship at this time.