Performance Sport

"I worked with Nick and he helped me get fit to play rugby to a world class standard for England. Nick is excellent at adapting things for indviudals, the profesonalism this guy has and the amount of respect you have for him makes you want to work harder."  
Dave Wilson (England Rugby)

"Working with nick has been very beneficial to me improving my strength and power. Nick is very keen to help and pushes you to get the very best out of yourself in every session. I have worked with a few different strength and conditioning coaches in my time at Middlesbrough Football Club but Nick is at the top of that list. Improving my movement patterns, leg power and core strength no doubt significantly improved my performance! I would love to work with Nick again and further improve my physical condition. All round great man and brilliant physical conditioning coach."
Phil Shead (Middlesbrough F.C. – Youth and Reserve Player)
 

"Getting the opportunity to train with Nick has been fundamental in my development as a competitive triathlete. I arrived having done no gym-based training with the attitude 'cardio is best!'. I discovered I wasn't quite as ninja as I thought as I displayed a rather pathetic show of core weakness! Nick then set to work literally building me up from nothing. The results have been evident in my strength and power, resulting in all three disciplines improving considerably. This has enabled me to compete competitively, winning the British Universities and Colleges Triathlon Championships 2011 and racing at World Age-Group Level in both Duathlon and Triathlon. It has not always been a smooth ride, there have been set backs along the way with injuries. However, Nick has always adapted and worked around these. After many hours of lecturing me against just 'carrying on through the pain', devising programmes to build up the weaker areas of my body, I'm a much stronger triathlete, both mentally and physically. Nicks drought dry humour and sarcasm (of which I like to think I give as good as I get!) has got me through many hours in the gym making training a lot more enjoyable. I would thoroughly recommend him as an experienced, motivated and professional coach."
Hannah Bedford (BUCS Triathlon Champion 2011)
 

"Nick recently looked after one of England's brightest young rugby talents. At all times, he was positive, motivating and professional in the way he supervised our player through a series of training sessions across a 3 week period. His experience, qualifications and personal skills make him an ideal strength and conditioning coach that we will often call upon to train and coach Northern based England rugby players to international standards of fitness."
Calvin Morriss (England Rugby – Senior National Fitness Coach)

"I have had the pleasure of working with Nick Grantham. He is without doubt very knowledgeable and always manages to get the message across. Nick constantly adapts the training sessions to suit my particular needs at the time. Nick is very approachable, friendly and flexible and always takes  a keen interest in my progres as a pole vaulter. I would have no hesitation in recommending Nick to any athlete who shares the same passion as I do to be better at my sport."
Tim Parkin (U17 UK Pole Vault Champion)

"When Nick first came to the club i was waiting for a back operation to take place. He got me well underway with a pre-operation conditioning programme to give me every chance of making a full recovery once I'd had the operation. Once I'd had the operation I started to work on my fitness with Nick. I was abit wary of my back at first but Nick's confidence assured me there would be no problems.  Nick eased me into training and I found it was brilliant and I really noticed the differnce in my performance!. I will carry on with the strength programm and if I ever need advice I will not hesitate to contact Nick. Thanks Nick."
(Jonathan Franks – Middlesbrough F.C.)

"I consider Nick Grantham a 'conditioning gem' on the other side of the pond. In terms of progressive, effective, efficient training, Nick Grantham is on the top of the game. He is at the top of the food chain when it comes to staying on top of innovative training..something many conditioning specialists fail to do." 
Robert dos Remedios, MA, CSCS, SCCC
2006 NSCA Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the year
Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning
College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA USA

"Having the opportunity to train with Nick has been fundamental in me achieving my goals during 2008. The knowledge and skills I have gained has been vast, and consequently the strength gains have translated into all the disciplines of the triathlon resulting in significantly improved performances. A personal best in both my short course and Ironman swim times, improved power outputs on the bike which bring me into T2 in a great position to run strongly, culminating in PB marathon times in the Ironman! All in all I know that without the strength and conditioning I would not have achieved the results I have during this season. It's thanks to the coaching and knowledge of Nick. Roll on 2009!!"
Phil Smith (Triathlete, Ironman)

"Dedicated, energetic, and highly committed, Nick is an outstanding strength and conditioning coach with the experience and pedigree of success to backup his work. Nick offers an enthusiasm and determination that is infectious, and as a result his style of coaching always gets the most out of the athletes he works with! With a history of coaching athletes to the most elite of professional and Olympic levels, Nick possesses a great portfolio of skills and up-to-date knowledge that makes his coaching and training programme designs fundamental to athletic success. His testament as a coach is that he will always expect as much of himself as he does the athletes he coaches”
Duncan French (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach – Newcastle Utd)

"I’ve a lot of time for Nick and really enjoyed working with him. He’s obviously great at his job but is a top man as well. Nick gave me something that will stick with me for the rest of my footballing career. I just wish I could have met him a lot earlier. I think that everything Nick has done for me will prolong my career and I feel like I'm in the best possible shape of my career. I just need the football to follow which will come next season. Nick, kept me going when times were getting hard. Cheers for everything mate,will never forget what you've done for me."
Willo Flood (Manchester City, Celtic FC, Middlesbrough FC, Dundee Utd)

“Playing sports for a number of years I thought I trained well and was physically well prepared. When I started to train with Nick I was not sure what a difference strength and conditioning could make and if I would stick with it. The difference has been significant. The change in all aspects of my physical preparation and performance is certainly something I would not have achieved without the expertise, support and motivation from the Nick. I would recommend him to anyone without any hesitation. This certainly has been value for money, with great results.”
Nicola O’Donnell (Football Player for Newcastle Utd Ladies)

"Nick, I really appreciate everything you've done for me this season to help me stay strong whilst I've been injured. I've been lucky enough to work with some great fitness coaches during my career and you're up there with the best of them.Thanks for all your help and support."
Kevin Thomson (Middlesbrough F.C., Rangers and Scotland National Team)

“I started training with Nick after one of my friends recommended him to me. During the initial evaluation process I found the Nick to be very professional and he helped me plan what I needed to do with my training schedule to get the results I wanted. Starting slowly and gradually building up the personally designed programmes have massively improved my physical fitness and performance on the rugby pitch. Nick helps me to get the most out of every single training session.”
Ralph Appleby (Rugby Player for Darlington Mowden Park RFC)

"I decided to start training with Nick instead of doing my own thing because what I was doing wasn't really working that well! The first thing I realised during the initial evaluation with Nick was that I wasn't that strong at all (contrary to my own belief!). However once I started to follow his carefully structured strength programme I began to feel the benefits!

'Nick’s knowledge and application undoubtedly contributed to the athlete’s progress in all aspects of fitness.’
Clare Palmer PhD (Former All England Netball Association Sport Science Manager)

'I worked with Nick for a number of years at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre. During this time our clients came from a wide range of sports with the majority being professional & elite athletes. Nick has the ability to deliver very practical physical conditioning programmes that are based on sound scientific principles. Nick communicates effectively and is an excellent motivator who invariably gets the best out of his clients. Nick's no-nonsense approach to the subject of athletic strength & conditioning is a breath of fresh air to an aspect of sports preparation that has become increasingly important in the contemporary competitive sporting world.'
Phil Newton (Lilleshall Sports Injury Rehab www.lilleshall.com)

‘The Marathon Des Sables is one of the toughest endurance challenges in the World (a 6 day run covering 143 miles across the Sahara Desert. Nick worked with me for 6 months, during which he assessed my fitness levels and developing a structured and progressive training plan, adjusting the training programme accordingly…….his professionalism and sense of humour enabled me to enjoy working with him………it was a joy to work with Nick and I would happily work with him again.’
Ciaran Horgan (Ultra Endurance Athlete)

‘Success in netball at an elite level requires exceptional skill in combination with high levels of speed, power, agility and overall endurance. Nick developed my individualised training plan which enabled me to maximise my playing performance.’
Tracey Neville (England Netball Team, Commonwealth and World Championship Medallist)

‘Nick Grantham is one of the most practical and applied conditioning specialists in the World today. He has the uncanny ability to take the science out of the textbooks and into the real world. More importantly he gets results. One of the best practitioners I have ever met.’
Alwyn Cosgrove     (Strength and Conditioning Expert)

'In the short time I've known him, I've been extremely impressed with not only Nick Grantham's extensive knowledge, but also his dedication to helping elite athletes and weekend warriors alike reach their goals. It's rare to find someone who has both the "in the trenches" experience and the book smarts – and the passion to leverage those abilities to ensure success in those with whom he works.'
Eric Cressey Performance Enhancement Specialist
www.EricCressey.com

‘Thank you for the work you did with me over the last 4 years. It has made a huge difference in my performance over a tournament which concluded in me win a bronze in Athens Paralympics and this year a silver in the European Championships which also meant we qualifier for Beijing. You are very professional at what you do. Thanks for everything’.
Sinclair Thomas (Paralympic, World and European medallist – Wheelchair Basketball)

‘Nick Grantham is a dedicated responsible coach. He is a watcher and a learner. Needless to say he doesn’t blindly follow the ‘latest trend,’ or incorporate the new fad of the moment. He is however, always open to new ideas, but he remains true to the training philosophy that he has developed through numerous successful years working as strength and conditioning coach. Through Nick’s experience and expertise he manages to combine fundamental training principles with innovative ideas that get the job done, effectively, efficiently and expertly.’
Fuzz Ahmed (International athletics coach, and adviser to several Premier League Football Players)

‘Nick Grantham was my Strength & Conditioning coach for about 7 months. With his help throughout this period I was fully prepared for major tournaments, and was at my strongest and fittest. The knowledge and support that he gave me has helped improve my technique, my strength and my endurance and will help take me further in my judo career.’
Becky Dunning (GB Judo)

‘I have worked with Nick for the best part of 6 years as an individual and part of the England Netball squad. He was the major influence in our squad becoming the fittest strongest and fastest we had ever been. He set up individual training programmes for athletes from which I was a major beneficiary. Not only did Nick improve my fitness in general but he was the only reason I was able to prolong my career. His rehabilitation programmes have helped me through 3 ankle operations and were it not for him my second Commonwealth Games Bronze medal would not have been a reality. Training never has been my favourite past time and I'm sure Nick never looked forward to the individual training sessions with me but his personality, persuasion and belief in me meant the difference between winning my medals and not. Were it not for his time and dedication I would never have achieved my dreams.‘
Olivia Murphy ( England Netball 1993-2006; 95 caps; CWG Bronze medallist 1998,2006; World Championship Bronze medallist 1999; England Captain 2000-2006)

'Nick has a great way with the people he works with, whether it's a professional athlete, private client or colleague – Nick will always make every effort to invest his time in those he works with to help them achieve their goals. He's a great coach, manager and mentor.'
Peter Elliot (MBE)  (Regional Manager EIS Yorkshire)

'Nick is a dedicated and knowledgeable S&C coach. His commitment to helping me achieve my goals away from the pitch enabled me to excel on it.’
Kim Shaylor (England Women's Rugby – no. 11)

‘Nick Grantham has made a significant impact on the Great Britain Wheelchair basketball program through his expertise in the 6 years he was with the program. His attention to detail and professionalism is outstanding. His ability to motivate and achieve improvement in the Great Britain Wheel chair athletes has enabled the team to achieve its world class ranking in recent years. Nick is thoroughly respected by all of the squad members and it has been our loss to lose his services.’
Murray Treseder (Head Coach Great Britain Wheelchair Team)

‘During the last several years Nick has made an invaluable contribution to my third year undergraduate Sports Science Support module in delivering a three hour session on’ Interdisciplinary Aspects’ drawing on his extensive experience working in high performance sport. Student feedback on these sessions was exceptionally positive. It has been my privilege to monitor Nick’s outstanding progress from his undergraduate degree through his MSc programme of studies to his current position.’
Dave Kellett (Senior Lecturer – University of Chester)

'Whilst working as the PGMOL Head of Sport Science, I approached Nick to deliver a range of practical sessions on various aspects of strength and conditioning that all the referees could introduce into their training regimes, along with some advice on aiding the referees’ recovery in between games. The sessions that Nick delivered to the Select Group referees were very well received by all due to his excellent presentation skills, his ability to link the theory with the practice in a sport-specific context and also his capacity to coach and communicate new training techniques to a new audience.'
Matthew Weston (Former PGMOL Head of Sports Science)