About Paul

My journey in swimming starts hand in hand with the creation of Bridgefield Swimming Club.

I was a member of the very successful Bridgefield school swimming club the year Bridgefield school closed down.

A few individuals who ran the school club decided it would be a shame if the club ceased to be, so decided to keep the club going as a fully ASA registered independent club.

And I was a member of it, which at this time 1981, was when I also left school embarking on a engineering apprenticeship.

I continued with competitive swimming for a few years more, training with City of Liverpool, but not to any great standard, before retiring (1st time) at the age of 18.

Then in my mid 20s decided to start getting back into something challenging, so put my name down for a triathlon, and therefore had to get back into the pool.

Made a return to training with Bridgefield at the time the club was all dominant in the local area, which was also the period my younger brother was training and competing, and my dad was a regular coach with the club. After 2 triathlons and work/marriage commitments I then retired again from swimming (2nd time) at the age of 24.

Some time later after marriage and 3 children, my oldest son now 5 years old was ready to start swimming properly, and only rightly I approached Bridgefield Swimming Club to put his name down on the waiting list. A few months later he was in, and on my second or third visit Vernon Davis spotted me viewing through the old misted up windows that were a feature of the old Bridgefield Forum which was just about still standing (but it did still have a bar in it – different times).

So 30 years ago I was asked by Vernon, “surely you must be bored sitting out there, when you know so much about swimming, why not come on poolside and start teaching and coaching”.

That’s exactly what I did, I went through all the teaching qualifications, and taught at the old Bridgefield Forum until it closed in 2002. We moved to the new Halewood Leisure Centre that same year and I have been ever present on poolside as head coach and now head teacher, besides a few breaks when I have been working overseas in Hong Kong and Toronto.

I have also been the club chairman for over 15 years and also squeezed a swimming comeback in, in the early 2000s, as our club struggled with a lack of open swimmers.

So a third comeback lasted a few years until younger faster swimmers started filling the gap. Retirement number 3 from competition occurred when I was in my late 30s. And it was at this time I was photographed for the poster at the end of our pool doing a bit of Fly. Its still up there now advertising our club.

 

I have tried to deliver good quality teaching and coaching over the years, with a goal to enable every swimmer to achieve the best they can be. Be it either success at national competition level or just to achieve what they can at an inter club level. As long as they enjoy the sport, make lifelong friendships and can do all this in a safe and friendly environment, this is what I consider non-negotiable.