Jon-Paul Pittman

Jon-Paul Pittman (born 24 October 1986) is a football coach and former professional player, currently Assistant Under 18 Coach at Brentford.

Jon-Paul Pittman
Pittman warming up with Wycombe Wanderers, 2014
Personal information
Full name Jon-Paul Pittman[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-24) 24 October 1986[1]
Place of birth Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Striker, winger
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
(youth team coach)
Youth career
1995–1998 Aston Villa
1998–2005 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2006 → Hartlepool United (loan) 3 (0)
2006 → Bury (loan) 9 (1)
2007 Doncaster Rovers 0 (0)
2007–2009 Crawley Town 61 (22)
2009–2011 Wycombe Wanderers 77 (14)
2011–2013 Oxford United 30 (5)
2011 → Crawley Town (loan) 4 (1)
2013–2014 Wycombe Wanderers 10 (0)
2014–2016 Grimsby Town 59 (15)
2016–2017 Harrogate Town 28 (11)
2017–2019 Torquay United 19 (3)
2018–2019 → Truro City (loan) 17 (3)
Total 317 (75)
International career
2008 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pittman began his career in Aston Villa's academy before moving to Nottingham Forest where he spent eight years. This also included two loan spells at Hartlepool United and Bury respectively. Following a short spell at Doncaster Rovers, he moved to Crawley Town.

A five-figure move to Wycombe Wanderers followed a season and a half later. He then joined Oxford United and after a short return on loan to Crawley Town made a return to Wycombe. A move to Grimsby Town in 2014 lasted two seasons before signing for Harrogate Town in 2016. Pittman’s final playing club was Torquay United in 2017. A career ending knee injury meant Pittman announced his retirement aged 31.

Raised in England, Pittman made one appearance for the England C national team in 2008.

Club career

Early career

Pittman was born on 24 October 1986, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1] He started his career at Aston Villa's youth academy as an eight-year-old, before he moved to Nottingham Forest where he served his scholarship. He went on to appear in FA Cup and Football League Trophy fixtures in his penultimate season there. To gain experience whilst under the management of Gary Megson, he was loaned out to Hartlepool United. The following season, he went to Bury on loan where he scored his first Football League goal in Bury's 3–1 home defeat to Chester City in August 2006.

Pittman's eight-year spell at Forest ended in December 2006. January 2007 saw him sign for Doncaster Rovers on a short-term deal to see him though until the end of the season. As a free agent Pittman was signed by Steve Evans at Crawley Town on 28 June 2007.

Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers' manager Peter Taylor put in a five-figure bid for Pittman. Crawley Town accepted and he officially signed for the Chairboys on deadline day 2 February 2009.[2]

His first Wycombe goal was an important one, the winner in a 1–0 away victory at Dagenham & Redbridge on 17 February. The club celebrated promotion to League One that season, but were eventually relegated back to League Two the following season.

Back in League Two, Pittman scored a trademark goal during Wycombe Wanderers' 2010–11 season opener against Morecambe in a 2–0 victory.[3] On 11 September 2010, he suffered a hamstring tendon injury and required surgery. This kept him out of action until mid-January, when he played 60 minutes in the reserves, scoring twice. Ultimately he scored four league goals in 19 appearances to help the club to a second promotion in three seasons. Pittman made 42 starts, 40 substitute appearances, and scored 17 goals in the Football League and FA Cup during two and a half seasons.[4]

Oxford United

Having left Gary Waddock’s Wycombe Wanderers at the end of the 2010–11 Football League Season. He was subsequently signed by League Two local rivals Oxford United, on a two-year contract.[5]

Crawley Town (loan)

Pittman made a surprise return to Crawley Town on a 93-day emergency loan.[6] The winger contributed one goal in four appearances during the clubs League 1 title winning season. Crawley's second successive promotion. Coincidentally, upon his return to Oxford in December 2011, he scored his first competitive goal for the club against Crawley Town in a 1–1 draw.[7]

Return to Wycombe Wanderers

Pittman's Oxford exit came under Chris Wilder. With eleven other players whose contracts had expired. This alerted former teammate and Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth to re-sign the forward on a one-year deal.[8]

Grimsby Town

On 28 July 2014 Pittman signed for Conference Premier side Grimsby Town on a one-year contract,[9] having spent time participating in pre-season as a trialist from mid July.[10] Pittman entered the 2015 Conference Premier play-off final as a 70th-minute substitute, in front of a Conference record 47,029 crowd at Wembley Stadium. The game was forced to penalties where Pittman missed the penultimate penalty in their 5–3 shootout loss to Bristol Rovers.[11]

Twelve months later Pittman returned to Wembley, playing in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final. This victory saw Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.[12][13] Pittman and ten others left the club after not having their contracts renewed by Paul Hurst at the end of the season.[14]

Harrogate Town

Following his release from Grimsby Town, Pittman signed a contract with Harrogate Town.[15]

He scored his first league goal against Worcester City in his first league game for the club in stoppage time.

Torquay United

Pittman signed a two year contract with Devonshire club Torquay United.[16] He was transfer-listed by Torquay at the end of the 2017–18 season.[17]

On 3 August 2018, Pittman signed for Truro City on a season-long loan ahead of the 2018-19 National League South season.[18]

He was seriously injured on 5 January 2019 in a game against Welling United suffering a patellar tendon avulsion fracture which required surgery. He returned to Torquay for the remainder of the season to receive medical treatment. The injury signalled the end of Pittman’s playing career and saw him move into coaching.

International career

England C manager Paul Fairclough called up Pittman, for whom he gained a cap against Italy in the 2007–09 International Challenge Trophy.

Coaching career

After retiring from professional football Pittman completed his UEFA A Licence and Advanced Youth Award. He was part of the cohort that piloted the Premier League Professional Player to Coach Scheme.[19] His role as Academy Development Coach at Exeter City ended in January 2022, when Pittman was hired to become Professional Development Phase Coach of Forest Green Rovers.[20]

In June 2023 Pittman agreed to join Brentford. Following the first team's promotion to the Premier League in 2021, the club reopened its academy in time for the start of the 2022–23 season under the Elite Player Performance Plan, while retaining the B team. The role saw him team up with Lydia Bedford who is the first woman to coach at a Premier League club.[21]

Career statistics
As of matches played 5 January 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nottingham Forest 2005–06[22] League One 0010001[lower-alpha 1]020
Hartlepool United (loan) 2005–06[22] League One 30———30
Bury (loan) 2006–07[23] League Two 91—10—101
Doncaster Rovers 2006–07[23] League One 00——1[lower-alpha 1]010
Crawley Town 2007–08[24] Conference Premier 361220—6[lower-alpha 2]44416
2008–09[25] Conference Premier 251010—4[lower-alpha 3]53015
Total 612230—1097431
Wycombe Wanderers 2008–09[26] League Two 173———173
2009–10[27] League One 41721101[lower-alpha 1]24510
2010–11[28] League Two 194001000204
Total 77142120128217
Oxford United 2011–12[29] League Two 153—10—163
2012–13[30] League Two 15221101[lower-alpha 1]0193
Total 305212010356
Crawley Town (loan) 2011–12[29] League Two 4100——41
Wycombe Wanderers 2013–14[31] League Two 100001000110
Grimsby Town 2014–15[32] Conference Premier 311020—6[lower-alpha 4]13911
2015–16[32] National League 28541—6[lower-alpha 5]2388
Total 591561—1237719
Harrogate Town 2016–17[32] National League North 281110—2[lower-alpha 6]23113
Torquay United 2017–18[32] National League 17300—1[lower-alpha 6]0183
Truro City F.C. 2018–19[33] National League South 17 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 19 5
Career total 3157515360311836796
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. Four appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, two appearances and two goals in Conference League Cup
  3. Two appearances and one goal in Conference League Cup, two appearances and four goals in FA Trophy,
  4. Three appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  5. Four appearances and two goals in the FA Trophy, two appearances in the National League play-offs
  6. Appearances in the FA Trophy

Honours

Wycombe Wanderers

Grimsby Town

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Wycombe snap up striker Pittman". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  3. "Wycombe Off to Flier". AttackingSoccer. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  4. "'JP' Inspires Blues Victory". WWFC.com Sport. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  5. "Oxford United swoop for striker Jon-Paul Pittman". BBC Sport. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  6. "Oxford United striker Jon-Paul Pittman moves to Crawley". BBC Sport. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  7. "Oxford Utd 1 – 1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  8. "JP's Back!". WWFC.com. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  9. "Grimsby Town snap up Jon-Paul Pittman and Craig Clay". 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  10. "No new Grimsby Town signing today – but striker joins on trial". 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  11. "Bristol Rovers 1–1 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  12. "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  13. "Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley". Sky Sports. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  14. "Grimsby Town Retained List". Grimsby Telegraph. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  15. "Harrogate grab Grimsby striker Pittman". Non League Yorkshire. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  16. "Josh Gowling and Jon-Paul Pittman: Torquay United sign defender and striker". BBC Sport. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  17. "Torquay United release five players and transfer list three more after National League relegation". BBC Sport. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  18. "StackPath".
  19. . The Premier League 2020 https://www.premierleague.com/news/1897723. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  20. . https://stroudtimes.com/former-aston-villa-and-nottingham-forest-striker-joins-forest-green/. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  21. "Ex-Leicester women's boss named Brentford U18 coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  22. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  23. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  24. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  25. Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
    "Ebbsfleet 4–4 Crawley". BBC Sport. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  26. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  27. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  28. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  29. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  30. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  31. "Games played by Jon-Paul Pittman in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  32. "J. Pittman". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  33. "England - J. Pittman - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  34. Alan Smith (22 May 2016). "Scott McManus strikes for Halifax to beat Grimsby in FA Trophy final". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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