Mike Roberts – Head Coach

Mike is a former international swimmer and competed at the Commonwealth Games (1978) Alberta, Canada.  He has set Welsh masters records for the 50m backstroke for his age group

Mike commenced his coaching career in 1978 attending Salford College of Higher Education.  He was awarded the ASA Teachers certificate, the ASA Full Coaches certificate and holds the Diploma in Sports Science.

Further more he attended training courses in lactate technology under the guidance of Clive Rushton and Orjan Madsen of West Germany.

Over the past 24 years Mike has been continuously involved in the coaching of swimming teams and has held the position of Head Coach at the City of Manchester, Bolton Metro and the City of Swansea.  He was Head Coach at the national performance centre in Swansea and was the development officer at Oldham Metro Borough Council.

Mike enjoys keeping fit on a regular basis by weight training, yoga mediation and masters swimming.  He is also an artist, which many of you won’t know, many paintings having appeared in local galleries.

Coaching Highlights:

Mike helped coach and advise Helen Donduncan and Robert Greenwood on preparation for Olympic trials both of whom were selected to represent GB in the 2000 Olympics.

Coach to Steven Evans selected to represent Wales at Commonwealth Games – Manchester 2002.

Coach to Georgia Davies, winner of the 13 year old girls, schools international in 100 backstroke and on the World Class potential programme.

Coach to Neil Van De Brook who reached the final at Olympic Trials and swam for Great Britain in the European short course championships.

Coach to Andrew Ayers, bronze medallist, 1992 and 1993 at European Junior championships and GB senior international.

Coach to Matthew O’Connor, 5th place Commonwealth Games Brisbane and Olympic team Barcelona.

Coach to Victoria Hale, GB senior team and two Commonwealth Games teams

More recently, Mike has set up the Swim Trafford Team and has early successes with swimmers ranked in the top three of their age groups at British level.  He is aiming for 30 national age group times in the very near future.

Mike sees the potential in Trafford as a very exciting challenge to develop in the next couple of years.