'I thought I was going to be the next George Best': Ballymena fitness coach reflects on a lifetime of chasing goals

I’ve only ever had one job. I’m nearly 56 now, and I started in this industry at 19, so that tells you something. Either I’m very loyal or I’m not the smartest. Perhaps a bit of both.

I left home at 16 to chase a football career. This was before mobile phones, before the internet, before all of that. It didn’t pan out the way I’d hoped - I thought I was going to be the next George Best - so I came back to Belfast at 19. That’s when I found the fitness industry, and I’ve never looked back since.

They say if you can make your work your passion, then your passion becomes your work. Actually, I think I just made that up.

I started out taking aerobics at The Grove Leisure Centre on the Shore Road. It was a council place – none of your fancy pants saunas and ice baths, it was raw - but hundreds of people came through those doors, and I brought as much energy and life to it as I could. Even thinking about it now gets me going.

About eight years ago I opened my own gym in Belfast. For anyone in this industry, that’s the dream, the pinnacle - to have your own place and the capacity to genuinely help people. But it wasn’t everything I’d hoped. Running a business is stressful, and after five years it came to an end. That was a hard chapter.

Then COVID arrived, and as difficult as that time was for so many people, for me and my wife Gillian and the kids it was a bit of a reset. It gave us a glimpse of what a work-life balance could actually look like, instead of me working 14-hour days. So I pivoted. These days most of my coaching is online, and I get to talk to people all over the world.

I was lucky enough to spend two years as strength and conditioning coach at Larne, where we won the Irish League twice. It was definitely a bit of a full circle moment for me. Now I’m back in Ballymena United, my hometown, looking after strength and conditioning at the club - and honestly, it’s a blessing. It also lets me do the work I love most: going into schools to take assemblies, into businesses to talk about nutrition, posture and lifestyle. I get some fantastic opportunities.

More recently I’ve moved into longevity. I wouldn’t call myself an expert - I’m a longevity advocate, and I reckon I can talk about it with a bit of authority now, given my age. For me it just means not putting a default on your age; not letting the number decide what you can and can’t do. I can still do most of the things I did in my twenties. I just do them with more care.

Resilience and consistency - those two words sum up 36 years of my training. I’m a terrible salesman, by the way. When I see people online shouting “buy my programs,” it’s not really my style. What I actually offer is simple: accountability. My programs - Grindstone Foundation to start with, then Grindstone Sculpt - are all online, and you don’t need a gym or any fancy pants equipment to follow them. I check in with people regularly, the way you and I are chatting now. That support matters.

I’m also known as the 30-rep guy. Everyone’s realising you have to lift, which is great, but you don’t need to shift heavy weights and batter your joints to get a result. Keep the muscle under a bit of stress and that’s just as good. Life throws curveballs, and if you’re not resilient, they’ll knock you over.

For me, wellness is being able to get up in the morning and look forward to the day without any anxiety.

That’s it, really - the capacity to take on the world within your own lane. We’ve all got different goals. What wellness means to me isn’t what it means to my mum at 84. She wants to get up, cut the grass, do a bit of gardening, get to Tesco. It’s just being able to get through your day without duress or pain. I’d never quite thought about it that way until someone asked me, but there it is.

And then there’s WellFest NI. I think I might be Joe Wicks’ warm-up act, no less. I’m fairly rhythmic, I like a bit of style, so expect all of that wrapped up in one wee ball of Belfast energy, enthusiasm and warmth. When I was down at the Dublin event I was buzzing. I think in the North, sometimes we underestimate ourselves - there’s a touch of imposter syndrome when we go away - but we shouldn’t. I’ll be doing my part to show that off.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to take from this, it’s that as you get older, it’s not over. There’s something out there for everyone. Get yourself a goal - it doesn’t have to be climbing Everest. My daughters did a couch to 5K; it took them 10 weeks and it was very gentle, but it was theirs. A goal that takes a bit of work and a bit of dedication. That’s what’s kept me going all these years - I’m always chipping away at something.

So, Belfast, I’ll see you at WellFest. Come for the energy.

WellFest NI tickets are available from www.wellfestni.com