The Sport Matters Team

Sport & Leisure Manager

Martyn Cassell

Martyn has worked at the Council since August 2006 and has overseen the development of the Council sports department. He has a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences and has worked in sport for the last ten years picking up a range of coaching qualifications. He will try any sport once but he mostly enjoys football, golf and tennis.

His sports development philosophy is to look at each opportunity by its merit and not focus on a small number of sports or target groups. The key to regular participation is a good range of activities, quality facilities and most of all FUN opportunities.

Sport & Leisure Officer

James Gregory

James has co-ordinated the Sport 4 NRG project since February 2005. James has a degree in Sport & Exercise Sciences and has been working with young people in sport since he was 16. He is an experienced football coach, an accredited tutor in leadership, and has completed a Level 2 qualification in counselling skills.

The rewards he gained from making a positive impact on the lives of others were enough for him to realise that this was the vocation for him. James treats his engagement with young people as 'secret social work', and takes time to get to know those who attend Sport 4 NRG. Because of this, we still have young people attending now who attended back in 2005.

James plays semi-professional football for his hometown, Ramsgate FC. He also likes to 'try' and play golf but follows the ethos that 'in great attempts, it is glorious even to fail!'  James has also been selected to run with the Olympic torch in Wandsworth on Tuesday 24th July

Sports Development Officer

Colin Rouse

Colin started with the team as a trainee in 2007, whilst studying Sports & Exercise Science at Canterbury Christ Chruch University. He has since become the Sports Development Officer taking on a number of projects including club mark development, coach education and the delivery of community sports programmes and events.

Colin is a multi-sports coach, including FA level 2 coach and Sports leaders uk qualified tutor, enabling him to run local sports leadership courses.  Colin is dedicated to inspiring the local community to access sport at all levels and aims to work with the team to create an active and healthier Thanet.

Colin's main passion is football, playing within the local Sunday football league, but he also enjoys taking advantage of Thanet's beaches by participating in beach Volleyball in the summer months.  Colin has also been selcted to run with the Olympic Torch on Thursday 19th July in his hometown of Wesgate on Sea.