About Us
Alan & Gareth Edwards - First For Sports Directorship
First For Sports was born out of an idea by Gareth Edwards in 2009. Gareth quickly recognised that the marketplace for sports coaching was saturated by companies and organisations that were constantly over promising and under delivering when it came to professionalism, relationship management and quality of coaching staff. Coupled with his experience in the field and ambition to redefine the levels of provision in this area he enlisted the help of his brother Alan. With over 15 years of corporate business management experience from small companies to multi national corporations overseas, Alan is able to forge, develop and manage ongoing close relationships on a consultative level with schools, local government and sports clubs.
Alan & Gareth’s goal is to offer children access to a very wide range of sports and games, to develop many mental and physical skills that will aid the current and future generations in their life journey. With their own extremely high standards, solid foundations and a substantial bank of experienced coaching staff, they believe that this is unquestionably achievable.
More about Alan and Gareth Edwards
Leanne McNulty - Coach
Leanne is a trained dancer who is qualified to teach dance & fitness to children and adults. Teaching Street Dance, Pilates, Aerobics, Zumba, Body Balance, Conditioning and much more. On top of this, Leanne is one of the first qualified instructors to teach Zumbatomic to children in the local area (the modified children’s version of Zumba).
Jim Medford - Coach
Jim is a fully qualified personal trainer and dietician coach who is currently competing at national level as a fitness model. Jim has many personal training clients that have found his work invaluable. Jim is also a fully qualified football coach with a successful playing career where he has played for many professional and semi professional clubs such as Crystal Palace, Reading FC, Reading Town, Basingstoke Town and Bournemouth AFC. Jim has a wealth of coaching experience and has been part of First For Sports since October 2010.
Lee Cooper - Coach
Lee has been working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and swimming teacher for over 20 years where he has taught thousands of children to swim. His clients have included many celebrities and even Royalty.
Outside of First For Sports Lee runs both adults and children's boot camps, private and group swimming lessons and continues to Personal Train clients with various goals from weight loss to international competitions.
As an athlete, his greatest achievement is representing Great Britain as a Triathlete. He was also selected to represent England in Biathlons and has been a National & County swimmer and long distance runner.
He is married to a professional dance teacher and has two daughters.
Joe Watts - Gymnastics Coach
Joe joins the team at First For Sports bringing with him a wealth of experience and achievement in Gymnastics both as a competitor and a coach.
Joe has been training within the gymnastics arena since the age of 2. In this time he has achieved such accolades as, 2003 - Men's Artistic Gymnastics Under 16 South East Champion and 2003 - Men's Artistic Gymnastics Under 16 Nationals placed 9th. Joe attended university where he achieved a BA(Hons) in Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology. He also supported this qualification with the JNC Youth Work qualification. He has been coaching for more than 10 years and his many gymnastic qualifications include BG Freestyle Gymnastics Level 3, BG General Gymnastics Level 2 and BG General Gymnastics Level 3 Module 1.
Joe has also spread his wings outside of the national coaching arena with some International coaching experience and International parkour/acrobatic performance experience. He is a very active member of the hugely successful gymnastics coaching team at Pinewood Gymnastics Club where he is surrounded by gymnasts from recreation classes through to European champions and World ranked competitors.
Joe's interests include spending time as a Stunt Trainee. Training in gymnastics, trampolining, judo, scuba diving, high diving, horse riding and rock climbing. Also working on driving and motorcycle skills. His latest experiences have been working on set as an actor, extra, special action and assistant director in film, TV and commercials including Fury (October 2014 release), Kingsman: The Secret Service, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars: Episode VII and 24.
Luis Turner - Coach
I am qualified in NVQ Level 1 and 2 FA Sport recreation which enables me to coach, teach and instruct in the community, I have also achieved, City and Guilds level 3 Diploma, Sports and Leisure in the community, City and Guilds level 2 Football Coaching and City and Guilds Level 3 Sports coaching.
I have been coaching football for four years making use of my variety of Football association qualifications which also include FA level one, two and three. I also have my goalkeeping level one as well as level one in youth coaching. I have ambitions to become a top level head coach of any large European club, with even higher ambitions of national team management.
Conor Creegan - Coach
Since the age of 13, my ambition has always been to make a career in sport. I have been coaching a variety of sports for over 9 years. I started by volunteering as a coach at my local football clubs. I then went on to gain my Football coaching level 2 and Badminton coaching Level 1. I have achieved many other awards and continued to study coaching further whilst at University.
I enjoy every day I coach and teach children in school and I find it very rewarding.
My sporting interests outside of work are Football, Badminton and Paintball.
Alice Hudson - Coach
Alice has been teaching for 5 years and has gained qualifications in Trampolining with British Gymnastics and Children's Fitness covering circuits, aerobics, boxercise, and dance. She has also been working alongside Leanne McNulty in Zumbatomic classes for two years. Alice also has experience in working with children with additional needs and has a particular skill of building rapport with her participants. She enjoys partaking in sporting activities in her spare time, including various styles of dance, fitness and weight training and constantly strives to improve her coaching skills.
Jack Lambden - Coach
I have been coaching in sports since 2006 and have lived with a passion for sport since a very early age. I have a Physical Education A-level and a BA hons degree in sports studies. My NVQ's include F.A level 1 & 2, Futsal level 1, Basketball level 1, Archery level 1, SAQ training and Coaching development.
Michael Clare - Coach
I have been coaching and teaching in the sports industry for 6 years. My qualifications include Level 1 & 2 NVQ in Football Coaching, Level 1 & 2 FA Coaching Certificate, Level 3 Diploma in Football Coaching, Level 2 NVQ Activity Leadership Certificate and Level 2 Supporting PE and School Sport. My ambition is to be the Manchester United manager!!!
Marian Edwards - Office Manager
Marian has many years experience in a variety of sales, training and administration management. From direct product sales to global corporate IT industry. Marian has also run her own business and is now enjoying semi-retirement. Marian brings a wealth of skills and knowledge to further develop the office side of the business and is the key contact to schools and parents plus running all HR support for First For Sports staff.
