“I started swimming from a very early age after it was recommended due to temporary paralysis caused by an allergic reaction to a vaccine. My swimming career took me from Atherton SC to Tyldesley SC and then an 8 year membership of Wigan Wasps who were unrivalled as the best club in that particular era when 5 members went to the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and then 8 to the LA Olympics 1984. I was involved in other sports up to the age of 12 and had county trials for Rugby League and was a Brown Belt at Karate which I had to give up due to persistent knee problems and the need to focus on swimming which was becoming my obvious talent.

As a swimmer, I was National Champion for my age several times for the 200m Butterfly and also made finals in the 400m Freestyle, 400m IM and 100m Butterfly. I retired at 17 which still remains a regret as those who used to finish behind me at nationals went on to gain Olympic selection. I represented the England Youth Team from 1985 – 1986 and also captained Lancashire in 1986.

After finishing swimming, I took my teaching qualifications and started working as a teacher/lifeguard at Wigan facilities and a private shcool in Bolton. I also worked on School Holiday and Ativity programmes coaching other sports whilst also coaching for Keith Bewley back at the Wasps. I continued this pattern whilst doing a degree in Leisure Management in Sheffield. Jobs were scarce after graduation so my best bet for a job was something I was expereienced in and qualified to do. I moved away form home to Cardiff SC and City Council, starting a full time Swimming Development and Coaching role as assistant to Dave Haller. In this time, I coached 14 National Medallists, 4 National Champions, 4 GB Junior Swimmers and developed the early career of Olympic Medallist David Davies up to 15 years.

I started swimming lessons from when I was three years old and was involved in multiple sports up until age 12, when I decided that swimming would be my priority. This was a double-edged sword for me, as I was a naturally talented tennis player and had family history within the sport although swimming was the sport I enjoyed more.

Having these early experiences within multiple sports would serve me well, acquiring fundamental movement skills from each sport that would help enhance my swimming experience. As a swimmer, I had absolutely no talent- I am the first person to admit this. What I did have as an athlete was a highly regarded work-ethic and drive to embrace the process.

 As a consequent, my swimming career had a natural progression to it:

• 12 years old- county qualifier 
• 14 years old- regional qualifier
• 16 years old- national qualifier 
• 18 years old- international representative for GB

My career highlights as a swimmer were competing at the 2014 FINA World Junior Open Water championships- finishing in 5th and 27th in my respective events. The 2014 LEN European Junior Open Water championships- finishing in 24th and winning multiple national medals within open water swimming.

I then went onto complete a degree at Liverpool John Moores University, gaining a 2:1 in Sport Development with the Business of Sport. After some time away from swimming, I had decided that I wanted to get back into the sport from a coaching perspective.

I started out by getting my teaching and coaching qualifications, alongside working at a couple of local leisure centres. I would then start coaching at my local club Wirral Metro, working primarily with the junior swimmers and gaining invaluable experience of what was required from the ground up.

Afterwards, I would then get a coaching role at the Ellesmere College Swimming Academy. In my time at the academy, I had coached with all the groups and it proved to be a very successful year. As a result, there were seven international swimmers I had coached including a bronze medalist at the 2022 European Junior Swimming Championships and gold and bronze medalists at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival.

I have been very lucky to have competed against and worked with very good people, that have had a positive and profound impact upon myself as a coach and as a person. For a lack of talent I had as a swimmer, this allows me to appreciate the process of developing athletes within the sport more than most. 

I’m always looking to develop myself as a coach and uphold my core values such as work-ethic, enjoying the process and learning from others; coaches and athletes. Finally, I’ve always seen coaching in bringing out the best in a person’s inner qualities and implementing them. On a personal level, I’ve been through a fair bit of adversity in my time although I have utilised that to my advantage. As a result, I always thrived on the big occasions as an athlete as I had nothing to fear; just enjoyed it. This is something I value most of all when coaching athletes, bringing out their best qualities and maximising their potential.

I started to swim at the very young age of 6 months. I was first introduced to the water at a mothers and babies session at Broughton pool, moving on from there I started to have lessons in Salford where I first swam 200 metres at the age of 3. I continued with my lessons and swimming for local club Swinton ASC which resulted in a trial for City of Salford swimming club at the age of 6. It was then I joined the competitive scheme alongside my brothers.  I swam in the scheme for 12 years.

As a younger swimmer I was never the best, the strongest or most successful which at times was frustrating but with the help and guidance of great coaches (Joyce Turner, Lynn Close, Aggie Calderbank, Bob Symmonds, Pete McGowan and John Stout) and sheer determination and hard work I progressed through the scheme to reach my goals and beyond. I managed to pick up a number of Regional and County medals and titles. For 4 years I qualified for Nationals in 8 different events and competed in a number of National finals as well as open water events. In 2007 I was selected for the England Talent AASE programme.  I swam for the Division 7 ESSA team, where from there I was selected to swim for England. In 2009 I was also selected to represent Great Britain in an Open Water series event in France. At the age of 18 I decided to spread my wings and move to America for 4 years as I had been offered a 100% scholarship to swim at Old Dominion University a Division 1 team in Virginia, USA. Although I moved to America to swim and attend University, I always returned to Salford to train and work with younger swimmers whenever I was home. I produced top times for my University and placed top 8 in my events, I also captained my American team for 2 years (my Junior & Senior year) which was a great honour.

In 2013 I finished off my competitive swimming career spanning 16 years. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a concentration of teaching and moved back home to Salford. I then returned home to work local Salford Primary Schools delivering curriculum PE to ages 5-11 for 4 years.

I started coaching at Salford in 2015 so I am now in my 7^th year of coaching. In this time I have coached a number of County and Regional qualifiers and medallists as well as National qualifiers and National Open Water medallists. Over the past few years I myself as a coach have been selected as Head Coach for the Lancashire County Camp and as a Skills Coach on multiple Regional and National Development Camps where I have had the opportunity to work with other swimmers and coaches across the country.

My main goals as a coach in the hope to pass on my knowledge and experiences to create a new generation of successful, determined, hard working, passionate swimmers within Salford.