From a kitchen table in Sale to working with Man City: inside the rise of Volta Sports
It started with one person, one idea and a kitchen table in Sale. Now, Volta Sports is supplying football training equipment to academy players, working with Manchester City and planning its next stage of international growth.
Connor Ryan, founder of Volta Sports
Founded by local entrepreneur Connor Ryan, the football training brand has gone from a kitchen table idea to working with academy players, grassroots clubs and even one of the biggest names in the game, all within the space of a year. And it all started right here in M33!
A Sale-based startup with big ambitions
Connor made the decision in 2025 to leave his job and go all in on building Volta Sports from scratch. Working from his kitchen table in Sale, he began developing a brand focused on football training equipment, with a clear goal: to create products that genuinely help players improve, while also tapping into the culture that surrounds the modern game. It was a bold move, but one rooted in experience.
Connor grew up in Manchester’s football scene, spending years as a Premier League academy player before going on to play semi-professionally. That first-hand understanding of elite training environments – combined with influences from street football and fashion – has shaped the direction of Volta Sports from day one.
Bridging grassroots and elite football
What sets Volta Sports apart is the space it is trying to occupy. Rather than focusing solely on professional academies or casual players, the brand is designed to sit in the middle, creating high-quality training equipment that feels just as relevant on a grassroots pitch as it does in an elite environment. Since launching, Volta Sports has worked with players including former Premier League striker Cameron Jerome, collaborated with elite academies and recently completed a bespoke project with Manchester City. For a business still in its early stages, it is a strong signal that there is real demand for what Connor is building.
Volta Sports working with Manchester United Foundation
The Cube: a flagship product with a difference
At the centre of Volta’s early success is its first product, known as The Cube. Designed as a premium football training aid, The Cube blends elements of street football with more structured, professional-level training. The aim is simple: to help players develop key skills in a way that feels engaging, creative and challenging. It is this combination of performance and personality that has helped the product stand out, particularly among younger players and coaches looking for something different from traditional training tools.
One of the more interesting aspects of Volta Sports’ growth is how openly it is being shared. Connor has been documenting the journey of building the business across social media, giving followers a behind-the-scenes look at everything from product development to brand decisions and it seems that his transparency has struck a chord. Volta Sports has already reached players, parents and coaches via social media, helping to build a community around the brand as much as a customer base. It also reflects a wider shift in how modern businesses are growing – not just through products, but through storytelling and building relationships online.
What’s next: new products and local collaborations
Volta Sports is currently developing a second product, with the entire process – from concept through to launch – being shared publicly. Connor is also keen to involve the local football community, working with clubs and players in and around Sale to test and refine new ideas.
There are also plans for more in-person activity; a street football event is in the works in collaboration with the National Football Museum in Manchester, bringing together local brands, players and content creators. Alongside this, Volta continues to run and plan football challenge events with grassroots clubs and academies across the area.
Connor Ryan, founder of Volta Sports, outside the National Football Museum in Manchester
A local business with global plans
While Volta Sports is proudly rooted in Sale, its ambitions stretch much further. With early traction in the UK market, there are already plans to expand into Europe and the United States as the product range grows. It is a significant step, but one that reflects the scale of Connor’s vision for the brand.
For now, though, it remains a story that starts locally. From a kitchen table in Sale to working with top-level clubs and building a fast-growing community, Volta Sports is a reminder that some of the most exciting businesses are being built much closer to home than you might think.
You can follow the journey via @voltasportsofficial or find out more at volta-sports.co.uk.
All images © Volta Sports
