Bob Gaisie first started with Sale Harriers in approximately 1975/6 when Helen Nichols introduced him to coach Peter Schofield who developed him into a good “club level” sprinter. He trained with some excellent athletes in Peter’s squad - IAN SAUNDERS, DEREK PRICE, CARL HAMILTON, EARL TULLOCH, STEVE PEGLER and the late TREVOR CARRINGTON and, as a result, was fortunate to be selected on a number of occasions to represent the region and GB.

Persistent injuries frustrated his athletics career so he drifted into semi pro football with Glossop and a few other clubs. He then caught the American Football bug and joined the Manchester Spartans and was lucky enough to win British and European Titles as well as represent GB and win the European championship. He was also invited to try out for the NFL World League (London Monarchs).

He started coaching when some of the guys in his team wanted him to coach them. He eventually joined Earl Tulloch as his assistant in 1992. Since then, Bob has coached a number of very talented young people, some of whom have performed at international level:- DANA CALLOW (MYHILL)from the Isle of Man, ALLYN CONDON, DANIEL MONEY, HEATHER BROOKES, DANIELLE HALSALL and SHAUNNA THOMPSON.

Through his association with these athletes, he attended the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2009 as a GB team member, joining the World Class Coaches club (a Frank Dick coach development scheme). He was also recognised as NW Coach of the Year (1995) and Manchester Coach of the Year (1999). He’s was also the North West Lead coach when the SPAR Sprints Initiative was launched and then became a Sprints Coach mentor for England Athletics.

He’s also been the “Sprints Consultant” to Nova for the first 2 years of the Manchester Street Race when Usain Bolt attempted the world record for 150m. During that period Shaunna Thompson and Bob were the subject of a BBC Documentary called “Olympic Dreams” which included Jessica Ennis-Hill and Tom Daley (see below).

In 2013 & 2014 Bob used the Street Race experience to launch the Hulme and Moss Side street sports event with CARL HAMILTON and EARL TULLOCH, which proved to be extremely popular and was a great success. He now coaches a small group of  athletes including Shaunna Thompson and Annabel Amadin (shot) and is mentoring a new coach about to join Sale Harriers.