Get fit for life

I have always been mad keen on sports from an early age, never excelling at one sport in particular., but being a pretty good all rounder. My favourite subject at school was PE, which is no doubt what inspired me to study sports science at college and university. I started developing my coaching skills in my late teens and early twenties, primarily in football. During this time I completed work placements at Manchester United F.C. and Preston North End F.C., as well as coaching summer football camps in the USA.

My coaching experiences in the USA encouraged me to look into postgraduate studies out there. Upon finishing my bachelors degree at Chester, I was fortunate enough to be awarded an academic scholarship by the US-UK Fulbright Commission to study a masters degree at Syracuse University in New York. When I returned to the UK I completed my teacher training and taught high school PE for three years, before pursuing my passion for football and strength and conditioning and landing a job as Sports Scientist / Fitness Coach at Liverpool F.C.

Opening my own gym had always been a lifelong dream, and in 2011 the opportunity arose to collaborate with my sister and open Athletes’ Edge and CrossFit Leyland.

Qualifications:

• Msc Exercise Science
• Bsc Physical Education & Sport Science (1st Class Hons)
• UKSCA Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach
• NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
• B.W.L.A Weight Lifting Coach
• Qualified Teacher Status (Secondary PE)
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

I have been heavily involved in sport my whole life. I have played a variety of sports over the years though my main focus was on rugby. I moved over to Preston from Belfast to study Sports Science at UCLan and to become a semi-professional rugby player. I played semi-professional rugby at Fylde for 5 seasons before moving to Preston Grasshoppers for 4 seasons. I decided to make the move to Blackburn to become a player/coach to enable me to continue playing whilst also gaining some coaching experience.

In my previous job I was a community rugby coach. Through this role I have gained experience in delivering training and fitness programmes to a variety of rugby teams from children to adults, amateur to semi-professional players.

I have been active in the gym for over 15 years and training specifically for CrossFit for the last 2 years at CrossFit Leyland. I came across CrossFit after our rugby club did their pre-season training at a local CrossFit gym & I loved the sessions and challenges I faced. Since joining CrossFit Leyland I haven’t looked back.

Coaching CrossFit is brilliant and has allowed me the opportunity to coach and deliver sessions to a variety of members. Every member has different goals and it’s a pleasure to work with them as well and is very rewarding to help them reach their specific goals.

Through rugby, my degree and coaching qualifications I understand the importance of being physically fit and working on nutrition to keep your body healthy and strong. Using the knowledge and experience I have gained I am able to work with members to maximise their own ability and to support and help them to reach their goals.

Qualifications

• BA (hons) Sports Studies
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• RFU Level 2 Coach
• Coach Educator
• Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach

Qualifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• PGA Golf Level 2