Athletics

Athletics is in the blood in the North East. We’re well known for producing champions in many sports but, in particular, athletics. You could go right back to the days of Jim Alder and beyond, or to the period of Mick McLeod, Brendan Foster, Charlie Spedding, Steve Cram, Kirsty Wade, Jill Hunter, David Sharpe, Jonathan Edwards, Tanni Grey Thompson or get right up to date with Stephen Miller and Chris Tomlinson.

The region has produced Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Champions and World Record holders.  All have found the North East a fantastic place to develop and showcase their athletic talent.

Great sports coaches inspire young people. But they also provide something extra – a focus for communities to get involved, to want to come together and enjoy sport.

Getting young people into athletics is only possible because volunteers support the club system by helping to nurture young athletes to develop their potential and providing an outlet for children to experience the fun and enjoyment athletics offers.

Officials, coaches and volunteers are the lifeblood of the sport. Their work allows competitions to take place, helps develop and improve talented youngsters but perhaps most importantly provides the tangible support structures that enable the clubs to exist and thrive.

As well as encouraging more youngsters to get into athletics, we want to increase the recruitment of coaches, volunteers and officials to fulfil the dreams of many youngsters in the region and, who knows, maybe find the next Foster, Cram or Wade.

We are delighted that Steve Cram and Brendan Foster are Ambassadors of the Foundation and that Tanni Grey Thompson agreed to become a Trustee of the charity. The Foundation works closely with UK Athletics Northern Region to support athletics at grassroots level as well as working with the English Federation of Disability Sport to develop a disability athletics programme to ensure that our work really makes a difference.