CHARLIE CHORLTON: Business Director
EMAIL: [email protected]
CHARLIE SAYS: “I joined Emphasis CIC and Sports Coaching Group in 2024 as Commercial Director, with a strong focus on growth, partnerships and creating sustainable opportunities across sport and education. Since joining the organisation, I have played a key role in strengthening commercial relationships, supporting new projects, and helping drive forward initiatives that expand participation opportunities for young people and communities. My work centres around building long-term partnerships that not only support organisational growth but also enhance the impact of programmes delivered on the ground.”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Golf
TOP COACHING TIP: Keep sessions simple and player-focused. The best coaching doesn’t come from overcomplicating drills, it comes from creating fun, engaging environments where participants get lots of touches, make decisions, and learn through doing.
MATT OWEN: Operations Director:
EMAIL: [email protected]
“I joined Sports Coaching Group in 2015 as a part-time coach. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of roles, including Head Coach, Holiday Club Manager, Area Lead, to now leading the operations side of the business. Outside of work, I’m a football fan managing, playing or watching every weekend. With my claim to fame being scoring a goal in the Europa League!”
Favourite sport: Football
Top coaching tip: Make sure you set the example through being enthusiastic and active during any coaching session!
JORDAN LAKIN: Head of Coaching
EMAIL: [email protected]
JORDAN SAYS: “I’m in my 9th year of working at Sports Coaching Group across various roles starting as a part-time assistant coach up to head of coaching. I have always been involved in sport from a young age. I started coaching at a gymnastics club at the age of 13 ad I only just recently stopped this at the age of 27. I played football until under-18s, but have since started playing golf instead shooting a best of 79. I have five siblings, two brothers and three sisters.”
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): Football and golf
TOP COACHING TIP: Evaluate! Pre, during and after sessions! What’s working? What needs changing? What are we doing next?!
REBECCA OLPIN: Accounts Manager
REBECCA SAYS: “I’ve been working for SCG since 2020, initially as an Accounts Assistant and now in my current role as Accounts Manager. Growing up, I spent every lunchtime in the PE department, playing whatever sport was on offer! In addition, I was part of a national focus group with the Youth Sport Trust to encourage engagement through sport. With sport having played a huge part of my school life, I am proud to support the operations of a company whose ethos is to nurture and empower young people through physical activity and wellbeing. In my free time, I thoroughly enjoy spending an afternoon watching live sport especially the Six Nations, an England test match or the Olympics!”
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): The Olympics, both summer and winter games have me hooked!
TOP COACHING TIP: Taking inspiration from Michael Jordan for this, “Practice like you’ve never won, play like you’ve never lost.”
STEVE THOMAS: Swimming Pools and SportsZone Director
EMAIL: [email protected]
STEVE SAYS: “The old man of the team but still got a few tricks to share!”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Football
TOP COACHING TIP: Smile and engage with the children.
JACK KESTEVEN: Accounts Manager
EMAIL: [email protected]
JACK SAYS: “I previously worked part-time as a coach at SCG while balancing my studies, work, and sport, mainly cricket, at both club and county level. I began as a part-time assistant coach at 16 assisting with school lessons but mainly working on the holiday camps! After completing my studies, I moved into my current role as Accounts Manager. I now work remotely from Australia, where I’m continuing to play cricket.”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Cricket
TOP COACHING TIP: Enjoy your practice! This will make you naturally come back for more. When having fun you’ll push yourself harder every time!
CHRIS JONES: Sales and Promotion (Enrichment & Fundraising)
EMAIL: [email protected]
CHRIS SAYS: “I’m currently in my 11th year of working at Sports Coaching Group. During my time at the company, I’ve worked my way from apprentice to management group. I’ve had many different roles and have worked in more than 50 different schools across mainly Staffordshire and Cheshire. My main role was at Willaston Primary School, from one afternoon teaching to becoming the school’s full PE lead. As well as teaching PE in schools, in 2020 we set-up our Pools to You programme and I was one of the original swim teachers. I’ve always been a sports nut, I’ve played competitive sports from a young age which have included football, cricket, hockey, table tennis and now golf.”
FAVOURITE SPORT: I really can’t choose between golf, football and cricket.
TOP COACHING TIP: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It’s always important to be organised when you arrive with plenty of time before the session, but as well as this, always go into a session with more than one idea, lessons don’t always go to plan and it’s important to be able to think on your feet and be adaptable to the session needs.
LUCY JONES: Marketing Manager
EMAIL: [email protected]
LUCY SAYS: “I started Sports Coaching Group in 2018 as a part-time coach while finishing off my studies! My coaching background started in football where I helped to run a local football club girls’ section whilst gaining my UEFA C coaching badge! Recently, after completing my MSc in Sports Management, I was appointed into my current role where I am really enjoying gaining insights into different aspects of the company and putting my learnings into practice!Away from work, I play for a local touch rugby team and enjoy watching friends and family play!”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Touch rugby
TOP COACHING TIP: Always be adaptable as no two days are the same, but most importantly remember to have a big smile as it can go a long way!
CHARLOTTE OAKLEY: Extra-curricular Manager
EMAIL: [email protected]
CHARLOTTE SAYS: “From a young age, I have always loved sport. I started coaching at 15 at my local trampolining club and later volunteered with the junior section at my hockey club. At college, I completed a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Performance and Excellence while playing competitive netball and coaching as an assistant coach at Sports Coaching Group. To pursue a career in sport, I went to university to study a BA in Sports Coaching and Development, where I developed my knowledge and skills in coaching, athlete development, and sports management. After university, I rejoined Sports Coaching Group as a part-time coach, which led to my current role as Extra-Curricular Manager, a position I have held for nearly three years.“
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): Football and golf
TOP COACHING TIP: Evaluate! pre, during and after sessions! What’s working? What needs changing? What are we doing next?!
ED PARRISH: Apprentice Liaison Officer
EMAIL: [email protected]
ED SAYS: “I started working for Sports Coaching Group in 2016 and across that time I have taken on many roles within the company such as Wellbeing Lead and Apprentice Liaison Officer. I have been involved in sport throughout my life with football and cricket being the main sports I have competed in.”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Football
TOP COACHING TIP: Always be prepared to adapt and change during your sessions.
ADAM FROST: Assistant Head of Coaching
EMAIL: [email protected]
ADAM SAYS: “I started working at Sports Coaching Group in 2020 and I have had various roles starting as a Level 2 apprentice up to Assistant Head of Coaching. I have always played lots of sport from a young age. I participated in as many sports and clubs as possible as a child, but now I’ve settled for golf, playing weekly and going to watch multiple professional tournaments a year. I am also an avid Man United fan!”
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): Football and golf
TOP COACHING TIP: Coach the mind, as much as the body! Performance is 50% mental, help to develop their confidence, focus, composure and game awareness!
JOE PRICE: Alternative Provision Lead
JOE SAYS: “I joined Sports Coaching Group in 2025 but have previously worked as a head coach and mentor. Sports has always been a passion of mine and I have been coaching cricket and other various sports since I was 14. I currently play a wide range of sports like cricket, golf, padel and football, my background comes from teaching as my dad, brother and other relatives are all teachers.”{
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): Cricket and golf
TOP COACHING TIP: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
CHARLIE PADANIA: Cheshire Sales Lead & Head Coach
EMAIL: [email protected]
CHARLIE SAYS: “I began my career at Sports Coaching Group as a part-time coach and worked my way to being a full-time coach and joining the marketing team as Cheshire Sales Lead. Sport has always been a heavy influence on my life and naturally a career in sport followed. From a young age, football, rugby and cricket took up the majority of my week with my three brothers and parents also being heavily involved, as time has progressed, football has become my passion and still takes up most of my time. While i have dropped a lot of the sports I played, I have started playing golf.
FAVOURITE SPORT: Football
TOP COACHING TIP: Put yourself in the children’s shoes, what would benefit me the most if I was in their position?
MITCH WEEDALL: Assistant Head Of Coaching/ Quality Control Team
MITCH SAYS: “I started working at Sports Coaching Group in 2018 as an apprentice and now I’m a Assistant Head of Coaching. I come from a footballing background and have been involved in playing since the age of six and I am still playing now. I have also recently started playing padel, I try and play at least once a week and also enjoy getting out for a run, but if it’s not recorded on Strava then it didn’t happen!”
FAVOURITE SPORT: Football
TOP COACHING TIP: Always be adaptable and allow everyone to progress at their own pace.
JAKE PLUMMER : Staffordshire Sales Lead, Assistant Head of Coaching and Sportscape Support Tutor
EMAIL: [email protected]
JAKE SAYS: “I started at Sports Coaching Group and Sportscape Education in 2025. I have almost a decade of experience in coaching and teaching PE, even coaching football internationally in Norway and Finland! Throughout my childhood I would throw myself into any sport and I am still currently playing football and cricket locally. I have also recently started playing golf which can get quite competitive within the office!”
FAVOURITE SPORT(S): Football, golf, cricket
TOP COACHING TIP: Enjoy your craft! If you can’t enjoy coaching, how are the participants going to enjoy your sessions!