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Graeme started his sporting career at Westoe
Tennis Club where he followed in his father's footsteps as
one of the best players in Durham and Cleveland. After winning
many junior honours throughout the country, including beating
the British number one in his final junior year, Graeme ventured
to America on a Tennis Scholarship for four years.
After spending four years playing and studying
in America, Graeme graduated with a degree in Physical Education
(Sports Science) and a minor degree in Anthropology. Graeme
then forgoing his playing career, mainly due to shoulder problems,
attended Loughborough University to gain a postgraduate qualification
in Recreation Management. His career pathway took him to Singapore,
Cyprus and Egypt working for an International Management Company
for 3 ½ years before returning home to South Shields.
Whilst on his travels abroad, Graeme showed off his coaching
prowess by coaching Internationally ranked juniors in 4 countries,
as well as Federation Cup Players in Singapore.
Graeme established GF Sports Development
in 1998 and turned his career towards Sports Science Lecturing.
Graeme completed his PGCE whilst teaching at Newcastle College
as a sports science lecturer and course leader. It was there
he met Tracy and The Fitness Factory's concepts started to
take shape. Graeme has continued his professional development
by completing a variety of academic short courses in Exercise
& Fitness, Sport Psychology and an accredited scUK &
Sports Leader Tutor and Assessor.
Graeme also spent time working for the
Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation; monitoring squads, sift sessions,
trails and trailblazer assessments.
Graeme now spends most of his time as a
Coach Development Officer for sports coach UK linked with
Tyne & Wear, Director to GF Sports Development which has
turned into a thriving business with over 35 local schools
as clients participating in multi-sports activities as well
as co-directing The Fitness Factory NE.
Graeme's two recent highlights have been
as a scUK LTAD Champion working closely with worldwide LTAD
guru Istvan Balyi and being asked to be a governor at Mortimer
Primary School where he attended as a child.
Graeme, having recently recovered from
two shoulder operations, is back competing at senior County
level for Durham and Cleveland
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