Coaching Team
You can contact the coaching team by emailing [email protected]
John Davey - Head Coach & Lead Coach, National Squad
John has a senior coach qualfication (previously known as Level 3) and has been selected on to the British Swimming Performance Coaching Pathway. This is what he says about his journey so far.
"Having been in a swimming environment from the age of 5, it seemed the natural progression for me to enter into the world of coaching, albeit via an unorthodox route.
I was fortunate enough to be in a performance programme that allowed me access to high levels of coaching and resources and, ultimately, to compete at an inter-national level. The highlight being competing at both Olympic and Commonwealth trials.
For as long as I can remember, swimming has been my main pastime and I wouldn't have it any other way. When I'm not on poolside delivering sessions, I'm researching new ideas and planning future sessions to further enhance my knowledge and benefit the swimmers in the club.
I try to use my own experiences to help the development of those around me and to give them the best possible chance to have a fruitful swimming journey. The thrill of seeing the continued development is a big motivation of mine, as well as being able to ensure that the next generation has as much fun and enjoyment in the swimming pool as I do.
I have coached athletes at all levels, from county qualifiers to national champions and the thrill of seeing the big smiles and happiness never fails to hit home.
I am a firm believer that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer!"
Tom Bloor - Lead Coach, Regional Squad
If Tom were cut in half, he would have swimming running through his body like a stick of Blackpool rock. He started swimming comparatively late (age 14) but developed quickly and has swum at national level consistenly for a number of years now. He has recently made the transition to Lead Coach, Regional Squad after ending his enormously successful swimming career with a personal best time at the Spanish National Championships. He brings a wealth of experience and new ideas with him having trained for the last few years at Loughborough University.
Roisin (Roz) Davis - Lead Coach, Development Squad
"I have been in a club setting for over 10 years now and am still competing. Having spent the past few years at Newcastle, it is still a very important part of my life. I saw coaching as a new way to enjoy the sport I love, it's a two way learning experience for both me and the swimmers.
I love how different every swimmer is, from swimming style to personality, everyone has their own way of owning the pool. This makes every session a memorable one and makes my job all the more enjoyable, getting to know everyone for their quirks."
Janet Slack - Coach, Academy & Junior Squads
"Hello everyone. I can say with complete honesty that I am not a competitive swimmer. My swimming career started quite late in life, when my daughter became a member of a swimming club. I wanted to be involved rather than be a spectator on poolside. Watching young swimmers improve and develop into serious athletes motivated me to take qualifications in both teaching and coaching swimming. My enjoyment turned to passion and led me along a very different career path, a move I have never regretted.
I am a swimming teacher for learn to swim frameworks and adult and child. I am a qualified coach in the pool and open water and a tutor delivering swim teaching and coaching qualifications to prospective swimming teachers and coaches.
At this point in my career I want to spend more time poolside working with young swimmers and inspiring them to be the best they can be. I feel very privileged to be given the chance to become part of this new journey Newcastle Swimming Club are taking.
My role will be Development squad coach, providing young swimmers with the base level skills of competitive swimming and, hopefully, inspiring them to want to continue on their journey to reach their optimum potential."
Sarah Buckley - Coach, Academy & Junior Squads
Sarah is a level 2 qualified coach with a passion for developing great technique in young swimmers, equipping them with the foundation skills needed to progress through the squads. As a mum, she is well aware of how to get the best out of young swimmers and has many years experience as a Junior Squad coach.
James Ibbs - Coach
"I was a Regional level age group swimmer in my youth (including some time as a member of Newcastle Swimming Club) and then took a break from swimming when I went to university. I definitely recommend NOT to take a long break like this as it was really hard to get back into it later in life. I also competed in modern pentathlon and achieved a silver medal at national level. Swimming competitively opened up new channels for me such as pentathlon and triathlon.
I would really encourage young swimmers to maintain an interest in the sport throughout their life. Not only is it a great source of fitness and fun, it also opens up many opportunities later in life, such as triathlon and open water swimming. I'm also a great believer in the idea that 'every swimmer has their day'. Even if you're not winning now, there will come a point when you will start to do well and succeed. Keep turning up to training, keep putting the effort in and you will reap the rewards. Hard work beats talent any day!"
Chris Bromley - Coach
Chris is both a coach and a swim parent. She began her coaching journey out of a desire to help the club and to avoid having to sit on a hot balcony all day long during club galas! Chris is a very well qualified (level 2) coach, stepping in when and wherever needed to cover holidays and absences. She has an enormous amount of experience and passion for the sport and continues to drive the strategy and training programmes for our younger squads.
Poppy Higgins - Swim Teacher, Academy & Junior Squads
Poppy has successfully made the transition from competitive swimmer to coach. Poppy enjoyed swimming success at a relatively young age but, after helping out on poolside as a volunteer, found her passion for coaching and decided to make the natural transition to join the coaching team. She has qualified as a Level 2 Swim Teacher which is enormously valuable when instructing our younger squads. She also teaches swim lessons at Jubilee 2 where she is able to nurture new talent. Poppy has an extremely positive and bubbly personality and is a popular member of the team, both with the coaches and the swimmers.
Adam Brigham - Land Training/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Adam has worked within the fitness industry since 2018. He has experience working within professional sport, amateur sport and with the general public. His qualifications include a BSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Staffordshire University and a MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Loughborough University which involved designing an exercise protocol to cause muscle damage and using this to examine the impact of Omega-3 on reducing muscular inflammation.
During this time he worked with the Leicester Tiger Rugby Academy to carry out nutritional support and body composition assessment; then, with Port Vale FC where he provided a range of sport science support including strength and conditioning, nutritional programming and supplement support (a promotion winning season). He spent the next few years working within education, earning his PGCE, planning and delivering health-based courses and running exercise classes before moving back into health and fitness full-time.
Adam has experience in the design, successful implementation and review of strength & conditioning programmes within professional and academy football, academy rugby union, national and regional gymnastics trampolining, school netball and rugby.
The definition of S&C according to the UK Strength & Conditioning Association is:
"The specialist area encompassing the physical preparation of athletes for performance in sport, while aiming to prevent or minimise the risk of injury. It encompasses the planning and implementation of physical preparation programmes which include, though not exclusively, strength, speed, power, endurance, agility and flexibility. Effective programming in S&C presents the best synergistic combination for optimum development whilst preventing the risk of injury."
