The xSport Coaches
Mark Taylor
Director
Mark has a passion for all sports and has been working in schools across London and the South of England over the last 5 years. He has also worked with a number of councils, sure start schemes, community groups and various sporting associations.
Mark's principal sport is tennis and he has competed at the highest levels across the UK and Europe. He has also worked with Surrey LTA and the Mexican Federation, producing a number of county, national and international players.
His second sport is football and has worked with Chelsea Community FC, working with the goalkeepers, development squads, PPA (Planning, Preparation & Assessment).
In addition to coaching, Mark has expertise in Match Analysis; with his main university paper presented, and subsequently published, at the "World Science and Racket Sport Conference" in Lilleshall in 1997. Associations which were present at the conference were the ITF, the LTA, and the Squash Association and Badminton Association.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Sport and Human Movement Studies
- ILAM Management Studies
- BTEC National Diploma in Leisure Studies
- LTA Level 2
- European Tour Certificate
- FA Level 2
- Basketball Level 2
- Squash Level 1
- Badminton Level 1
- Gymnastic Level 1
- Swimming Level 1
Mark is currently undertaking his SAQ I Diploma
Mark McGibbon
Head of Fitness
As Long as Mark can remember sport and fitness have been his biggest interest; from athletics, track and field, to gymnastics and football.
Mark is especially skilled at football and he has certainly had some great footballing experiences, namely playing at high levels and gaining valuable experience throughout Europe (Serbia, Romania, Greece, and Denmark to name but a few).
Having completed his personal training qualifications with Premier Training Global, Mark has been a successful personal trainer for the last 8 years. Additionally, he has recently completed all his Boxercise qualifications, which he is putting to great use in Xsport's current school and community projects. Mark is currently updating his FA level 2, a qualification that plays to his natural strengths.
Qualifications
- Premier Personal Trainer
- Boxercise Trainer
- FA Level 2 Coach
- Premier Nutrition Award
- Premier Circuit Training Award
- Premier Sports Massage Award
- Premier Sports Injuries Award
Azeez Akinbolu
Academy Manager
In the last 15 years, Azeez has spent a lot of time in the sports world coaching and developing talented individuals in football. This experience has been very rewarding and has given him great insight into what is involved in the development of individuals irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or level of participation.
Azeez' main sport is football and he has played professionally throughout Europe; including England, France and Denmark. As a coach, Azeez has helped to develop players taking them from grassroots through to Premiership academies.
Azeez is a great communicator, organiser and manager and is passionate about making a difference in young people's lives. Azeez is also a God fearing Christian.
Qualifications
- FA Level 1 Completed May 2008 at Tottenham Hotspurs Coaching Centre.
- FA Level 2 Completed December 2008 at The David Beckham Academy.
- FA Level 3 Starting in September 2009 at The David Beckham Academy.
Access to Physical Education
- BTEC National Diploma in Business and Finance
- BTEC National Diploma in Electrical Engineering
Steve Franks
Schools and Community Manager
I gained a merit level in BTEC Sports Science when I was 19 which came with a level 1 in coaching football. I joined XSport at the end of 2004 when I began to gain experience in a wide range of school and community sports coaching. I picked up my level 2 in coaching football in 2008 and also run Community Sport Development for a local sports college.
I've enjoyed playing football at amateur level all my life.
I do what I do to see all people groups impacted through the opportunity of sport.
Qualifications
- BTEC in Sports Science
- FA Level 2 Football Coach
Clint Weirich
Head of Psychology & Mentor Scheme
Clint graduated from Park University (Missouri, USA) with a degree in Social Psychology and lives with his wife in Surrey.
He is a qualified Level 2 Basketball Coach and has a sport background in Basketball, Football, Tennis, Golf, Baseball and American Football. Continuing a focus on physical fitness after 6 years of service as a US Marine, Clint has enjoyed competing in numerous marathons, including London, Paris and New York.
Clint is currently working towards a Master's degree in Psychology at Oxford Brookes University with a focus on sport and exercise.
Qualifications
- BSC Social Psychology
- Basketball Level 2 Coach