Neil joined Mount Kelly in April 2019 from Plymouth Leander Swimming Club, where he spent the previous 3 years of his career where he worked as Head of Junior Programmes and more recently, the Head of Regional and National Age Group. During this time Neil coached a wide range of swimmers across the junior set up and has helped many swimmers progress through County, Regional and National level. In 2016, during his first year, Neil helped guide the Plymouth Leander team to third place in the National Junior League final.
Prior to this, Neil worked at Oldbury Swimming Club based in Birmingham from 2012-2016. Neil’s coaching career started here at Oldbury, initially as an assistant coach, before adding the role of Junior squad coach. After 3 years in these two roles, Neil was appointed the clubs first ever full-time Head Coach in 2015. During his time at Oldbury, Neil helped the club progress to their best finish in Arena League and achieve their highest number of regional qualifiers. Neil’s own swimming journey began in Bedfordshire, where he grew up, swimming for Modernian Swimming Club. After leaving swimming at the age of 18, Neil started to compete again in his mid-twenties, achieving regional times and winning medals at the British Swimming Masters Championships in 2018. Neil can now be found swimming regularly in open water training and events.
Outside of the club environment Neil has previously been selected to the West Midlands coaching development programme, and has also worked extensively within the Swim England talent pathway at county, regional and national level.
Aside from his swimming background, Neil has a strong experience of working in a school educational environment. In 2011 Neil completed a PGCE in Primary Education from Birmingham City University. Also, whilst coaching at Oldbury part time, Neil’s full-time job was a sports coach responsible for swimming within a primary school. These two areas of Neil’s development give him a strong grounding to join the Mount Kelly school environment and help benefit the welfare and wellbeing of all children.
