Hello I'm Michael. (That's me second left next to Tony Blair!)

I have been extremely lucky and grateful to receive funding from the Tony Blair Sports Foundation to complete my athletics Level 1 coaching course.

I have recently finished my second year BTEC National Diploma for Performance & Excellence in sport. This gave me an understanding of the basics of becoming a good coach and a better leader by giving me opportunities, such as studying FA Level 1, and supporting me while on my Step Into Sport programme.

Being a very keen athlete for five years, I have had a very strong interest in watching, training and competing in events that are linked with the sport. But, I have always wanted to coach track & field at some point in my life and with having experience of working alongside two coaches I felt I was ready to start.

The reasons I want to become a coach are simple. I can pass on my knowledge to a younger generation who have ambitions to become potential future champions. Also if I can't make it to a major event such as the Olympics or World Championships as a professional athlete, then I would love to have the prospect of sending one of my athletes to a major event.

I feel with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation I can get a step closer to achieving that goal.

When I enquired about taking a Level 1 in athletics,staff such as my coach and community athletics coach, Matt Wood, and my lecturer, Tracy Ashcroft, had no hesitation in setting things up for me. They told me about the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and how it would support me in partially funding the course.

After completing Level 1 my coach gave me a chance to do a little bit of coaching before I was given an opportunity to coach with South Tyneside Sports Development where I now have a job coaching on different schemes such as start track and holiday programmes.

If it wasn't for the college and the staff setting me up with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation I would still be searching for where and when I could do my Level 1 in athletics. I wouldn't be the confident person I am now and I would be nowhere near my goal that I want to achieve by the 2016 or 2020 Olympics.

Next up is my Level 2 in sprints and jumps!

All I will say is, for those who want to become a coach and want help, then contact the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and who knows, in the near future we could be producing the very best sporting talent.

Thanks for reading

Michael.