Occupation: Crusaders FC Captain/Fitness Manager
Age: 26
E-Mail address: colin.coates@ezefitness.org.uk
Place of Birth: Belfast
Where you live: Belfast
First Job: Bartender
What it taught me: A lot in terms of what employment was really about. The differences between employment and school are vast and I was fortunate enough to experience this first hand. The most important thing it taught me was that the harder I worked the greater the financial rewards. I have tried to carry that with me ever since
Family/Status: Single
Name of spouse and children: I currently live with my partner, Claire, and our two sons, Zach and Rowan
Best advice anyone ever gave you: To play to my strengths. Certainly within my football career this has been particularly important. My current manager, Stephen Baxter give me the belief to perform and always encourages me to play to my strengths and not to try things that maybe don’t come naturally to me. This advice coincided with a great improvement in my performances
Best advice you could give someone starting out: To recognise who they are, what they believe in, what they are good at and maximise those strengths as much as possible while continuously working on potential weaknesses so they can be become a more rounded individual in whatever their walk of life
Colin currently works within the fitness industry for ezefitness, as a club manager, as well as being captain for Crusaders FC. He attended Grosvenor Grammar school, where he gained the qualifications to pursue an honours degree in health promotion and leisure management at Stranmillis University College.
Whilst pursuing his career in health and fitness, he was also building a football career with Crusaders FC, which he joined at the age of 15. The highlights of his footballing career have been captaining the team to an Irish Cup victory over nearest rivals Cliftonville as well as having represented his country earning him six full international caps after making his debut in Pisa against Italy.
