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Feb 22

Tamworth Donations

On 5th March 2016, County head off to play Tamworth away.  I read this article from one of my students at UCFB, and immediately had affinity.  Not least in that it’s a Stockport County match; but as the undertones of the message below echo what we as County fans stand for “the scarf my father wore!”; and with my own family members having faced the ubiquitous dreaded ‘C’.

At this game there will be charitable fundraisers.  They are not affiliated to Tamworth or supporters but are simply pursuing a dream.  Please do dig deep and give them a warm welcome to show, as I know, our fans are the best!

Organiser, Daniel Getliff, comments:

“I will be running in the 2016 London marathon for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, I will be doing this in memory of my Grandad. I’ve played football for nearly 16 years now at various levels, I study it at university, I coach it to young kids all over the world. All because of this man, he started it all off. He used to take me to games as a kid and pretty much introduced me to the sport but sadly never actually got the chance to see me play. This, with your help, is my way of saying thank you to him while at the same time raising money for an amazing charity in the hope of one day beating cancer so that others can have more amazing experiences with the influential people in their lives. 

Just 1% of adults who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will survive 10 years after their diagnosis. Unfortunately for my grandad by the time he was diagnosed it was too late. This horrifying statistic needs to change!! And with the donations I receive hopefully one day, soon, it will!!” 

If you are not going to the match – donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/Daniel-Getliff/

Feb 19

Olympic Dream

It is not often that I am overcome with emotion, but the experience I witnessed this Week through sport, led me to such pride. You all know of my continuous work and relationship with Stockport Metro. This, the most successful swimming club in UK history in terms of medals.

Pre-Christmas, 2015, we succeeded in a crowdfunding campaign for this same Club, to fund talented athletes to embark on a much needed training camp in South Africa, in preparation for Rio 2016 Olympic places. My Company, ACROBAT | FCSM, made a pledge in this Campaign and was promised a ‘reward’. The reward my Son, Kaya (aged 9), received was an hour’s personal training in the fabulous Grand Central Pool, home of Metro and operated by Life Leisure (with whom I was Non-Executive Director for nearly 12 years). Not only this but, a bespoke Stockport Metro’s “Wolfpack” T-Shirt (as worn by the squad), “SM” Swim Cap and entry to a dedicated Olympic Raffle.

On arrival the reward exceeded all expectations. Naturally, it was honouring the nature of our pledge – but the people that led this experience were impeccable. The athlete leading tuition and accompaniment in the pool was Harry Needs. He knows first-hand what it is like to train at the pinnacle of Olympic sport and has recently taken over as the Strength & Condition Coach of Stockport Metro High Performance Centre, inspiring the next generation. Harry is married to Olympian, Rebecca Adlington. Furthermore, the Coach who encouraged the activities throughout was the experienced Bulgarian, specialist, Alex Markov.

The tone and congeniality was flawless – such elite sports people offering time and genuine compassion to assist my Son, a good sportsman, but not a regular swimmer nor member of any swimming club (he did however learn to swim via Stockport Metro’s swimming lessons as do many a child from Stockport, Manchester and Tameside).

So the story of this ‘customer satisfaction’ has been written, completed by: an improving performance through expert guidance in a mere hour; the whole experience being videoed underwater using the incredible ‘fish eye’ technology (with a video to retain for lasting memories), Harry’s iphone took photos galore, and Rebecca is forwarding a signed photograph just for Kaya.

Could it be any better – I doubt it! My personal favourite stroke was when Harry and Kaya took turns doing the ‘dolphin’. One would be the arms up front, the other holding his feet, and being the flipper and kicking – a role that they reversed in the sequence.

Sport and life together as one. I hope that this short note helps a reader or two to think that they might like to have an introduction to the work of Stockport Metro – as a partner or sponsor – opportunities abound. Or if you know someone that could equally appreciate such a gift, in whole or part, just get in touch and we’ll see if we can help?

p.s Harry gave Kaya his, expensive looking, googles on departure…..and has since written to me saying: “Kaya was a pleasure to work with and I personally was inspired by the amount of progress he had in the hour. Such a charming lad with flawless listening skills.”

Jan 11

Blue Indian

It’s increasingly common that we are asked to try and facilitate introductions to football connections to underpin commercial deals or prospective partnerships.  We have to deflect more than we take forward purely in the interest of the spirit of respect, as we don’t seek to be a sales broker or ‘post man’.

This Week, we deflected a personal aspiration to meet Manchester City FC.  We had to decline with no sound, commercial reason to co-operate.  I’m guessing that with my lecturing responsibilities moving from Turf Moor to the Etihad in Semester 3 at UCFB, there might be more of such approaches but my professionalism and ethics shall not waiver.

On the other hand, I was proud to facilitate an introduction and personalised facilities tour (including players’ areas not commonly seen) for the visit of the CEO of the Bank of India.  This on behalf of a long established working relationship with Slater Heelis.  A topical thing to post in the Week that announces the annual growth of the Indian economy has exceeded, fellow BRICS county, China.

 

Dec 2

Vive la France

The aftermath of the Paris atrocities left a sour taste in mouths and minds. The delay in this posting has come from deliberation not merely a swift reflex. I admired and enjoyed the comradery of sporting bodies and fans alike. From the splendid red, white and blue of Wembley Stadium to Wembley Indoor Arena to the solidarity of the players from both French and English nations in the recent friendly match in football between both Countries. The imagery and choral endeavors of the fans in the subways even on that very same evening of bombings and shootings by the spectators casually fleeing the Stade De France.

One of the more innovative gestures of testament to the disaster was the Scottish team, Hamilton Academical FC wearing the French away strip. Sport and football wins hands down over terrorism.

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