Career turnaround after three decades brings more sport to Norfolk's schoolchildren - 21st Feb 2011
A Norfolk horticulturalist who has spent decades travelling the UK and Europe advising on crop growth has given up his career to take on a new challenge – to make sport his business in a bid to inspire today's children with a passion for fitness.
Father-of-three Angus Coates, from Old Buckenham, has been working in farming and horticulture since the age of 15 – and makes the break after 30 years to turn his passion for sport into a career and take on his own business under the wing of the UK's biggest coaching company, Norfolk-based Premier Sport.
Angus, 45, a former Diss rugby player, has been involved in coaching kids' football and rugby for many years, and takes over a Premier franchise in Norwich and North Norfolk.
Premier Sport is dedicated to developing innovative sports coaching which will help children to live a healthy, fit life, and successfully delivers coaching to more than 125,000 children every week.
The company, based in Shropham, near Attleborough, is backed by big-named sporting ambassadors including rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew and former rugby league champion Paul Sculthorpe.
For Angus, the move to set up his own business with Premier represents a huge career change and he has already undergone intensive coaching training.
He now works across West and North West Norwich, Aylsham, Holt and Sheringham offering PE coaching both in and out of school hours as well as holiday camps, breakfast, lunch and after school clubs with his team of coaches in up to 21 different sports under the Premier Sport umbrella.
Angus is already delivering sports clubs or PE lessons in Woodfields School; Sheringham, Larkman Primary; Norwich, Kelling Primary, St Michaels Infants and John of Gaunt; Aylsham, Easton Primary, Horsford First, Drayton Community Infants and Nightingale Infants; Taverham.
Angus, who coached mini rugby at Wymondham Rugby Club for three years, still takes a team at Rocklands Youth Football Club, near Attleborough.
"To be able to run your own business in an industry which I class as a hobby is both rewarding and very enjoyable," he said.
"Due to the time constraints of general day to day living it isn't always easy to get children to outside clubs to experience new activities and sports. Premier Sport offers all children of all abilities the opportunity to experience all forms of sport and activity and allows there to be a differentiation between children of different abilities."
"I want to engage children of all abilities and hope they can take something home after each session which will encourage them to talk to their families with excitement and enthusiasm."
Angus will also run four holiday camps this February half term:
- Mon 21/Tues 22 Feb – Football at Costessey Infant School
- Tues 22 Feb – Street Dance at Costessey Infant School
- Weds 24/Thurs 24 Feb – Football at Spixworth Village Hall
- Fri 25 Feb – Football at John of Gaunt, Aylsham