Prisons Programme

During my time as a Professional Sportsmen and indeed a World Champion, I didn’t have to think for myself, as almost everything was taken care of for me, off the field.

When I finished playing the game that I had played since the age of 9, adapting to a different way of life was incredibly difficult, and something that I struggled with for quite some time.

You see, when you have your independence taken away, you become reliant upon others, but when that independence is returned to you, it is hard to react.

How does an individual find the motivation to kick start their life once again?

During my initial workshop, I talk about the discipline that I needed in order to firstly achieve my goals of becoming a Professional Sportsman, including the many sacrifices that I had to make along the way, as well as the resilient attitude that I had to have when I went through tough times. I talk about my upbringing on a council estate in Widnes, which for many reasons, gave me the determination to do better and to push myself to the limit.