Our experienced coaches and staff

Our friendly, helpful and highly qualified team have a wealth of experience and skills between them. Scroll down to learn more about all the team here at CMIG.

Directors

Colin Leigh
Colin LeighDirector of Coaching

  • Founded the gymnastics club in 1971

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 International Coach

  • British Gymnastics Honorary Life Member

  • International Brevet Judge

  • Officiated at World Gymnastics Championships and Olympic Games

  • Chaired National Men’s Technical Committee and North West Executive Committee

  • Honorary Master Coach

  • GB & England Team Coach

  • Personally produced three British Olympians and many British Champions

“Gymnastics is the bedrock of all sports.”
Jane Leigh
Jane LeighHead of Women’s Gymnastics

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 High Performance Women’s Artistic Coach

  • GB and England Team Coach

  • British Gymnastics Regional Judge

  • Chaired North West Women’s Technical Committee

“I got involved in gymnastics over twenty years ago via my children doing the sport. It’s fantastic to see each gymnast reach their full potential and to grow as individuals.”

Managers & Senior Coaches

Jessica Jacks
Jessica JacksManager

  • Senior Women’s Artistic Coach and Recreational Gymnastics Manager

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 High Performance Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Qualified PE Teacher

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Jess was a former North West Champion and is an England Team Coach. Her favourite apparatus to coach is Bars.
Andrew Webb
Andrew WebbManager

  • Head of Men’s Artistic Performance & Manager

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 High Performance Men’s Artistic Coach

  • International Brevet Judge

  • Former Performance Pathway and Development Officer and Member of the North West Men’s Artistic Technical Committee

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Before joining CMIG Andrew had worked as a National Youth Development Coach and Gymnastics Development Manager.
John Smethurst
John SmethurstHead of Recreational Gymnastics

  • British Gymnastics Level 4 Men’s Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics National Judge

  • Former CMIG gymnast and Commonwealth Games gold medallist

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

John has been a gymnast and then coach at CMIG since 1983. He’s a Gold and Bronze medalist from the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games, and a Gold and Bronze medalist from the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Byron Clithero
Byron ClitheroMen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 High Performance Men’s Artistic Coach

  • International Brevet Judge

  • Chartered Physiotherapist practising at his own Metro Physio in Salford

  • Previous Chair of North West Men’s Technical Committee

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Byron was a gymnast at CMIG before becoming a successful coach at the club where he coached a European Champion and Commonwealth Champion in 2002. He then took time out to focus on judging but couldn’t stay away and now coaches the junior gymnasts.
Matt Firth
Matt FirthMen's Artistic Performance Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 5 Men’s Artistic Coach

  • Previous British Gymnastics National Coach

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Liam Herring
Liam HerringMen's Artistic Performance Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 4 Men’s Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics National Judge

  • Previous Chair of the North West Men’s Artistic Technical Committee

  • 1st Class BA Hons Degree in Sports & Exercise Science

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Liam trained at CMIG for 13 years and enjoyed being part of the British National Squad. He says he’s very proud to coach at a facility that encourages high quality gymnastics at all levels.

Coaches – Competition & Recreation

Sophie Norris
Sophie NorrisWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 3 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • 1st Class BA Hons Degree in Coaching and Sport Development

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Sophie started coaching as a volunteer aged 15. She says that seeing a gymnast’s face light up when they achieve a new skill is one of the things that keeps inspiring her to coach at her best.
Chelsey Vernon
Chelsey VernonWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 2 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 1 Pre-School Coach

  • Women’s Artistic Regional Judge

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Jenna Ryan
Jenna RyanWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 2 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Nancy Samuels
Nancy SamuelsWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 3 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Child Welfare Officer

  • Qualified Sports Massage Therapist

  • Choreographer

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Joan Vernon
Joan VernonWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 2 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Women’s Artistic Regional Judge

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Julie Cornelius
Julie CorneliusWomen's Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 2 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Assistant Coaches – Competition & Recreation

Lynne Hogg
Lynne HoggAssistant Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 2 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Lynne is our longest standing volunteer coach and continues to make a greatly appreciated contribution to our women’s programme.
John Bilsborough
John BilsboroughAssistant Coach

  • British Gymnastics Level 1 Men’s Artistic Coach

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Naomi Gayle
Naomi GayleAssistant Coach

  • Women’s Artistic Regional Judge

  • Former CMIG club gymnast

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Naomi was one of our successful medal winning gymnasts before becoming a coach.

Administration

Janice Smith
Janice SmithChief Administrator & Club Secretary

  • British Gymnastics Level 3 Women’s Artistic Coach

  • British Gymnastics Club Judge

  • Child Welfare Officer

  • Qualified in safeguarding children

Janice became involved with CMIG when her daughter began gymnastics. She soon became a competitive gymnast and Janice became a volunteer in the gym before being encouraged to qualify to coach and judge.

Janice later joined CMIG in the recreational side of the club alongside her role of Administrator. She enjoys meeting gymnasts, parents and helping with any queries they may have. “There is no nicer feeling than seeing a gymnast achieving a skill after training hard to do so.”

Caretakers

Mark Bardsley
Mark BardsleyCaretaker Manager

  • Qualified First Aider

Carl Dermody
Carl DermodyCaretaker

  • Qualified First Aider

If you’ve any questions or anything you would likes to discuss with us, please get in touch.

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