Norman Poole was awarded life membership of Sale Harriers Manchester in 2020 in recognition of his considerable contribution to the success of the club through his top level coaching.

He was himself a gifted athlete in his youth but was prevented from fulfilling his true potential by illness. He’d achieved times of 4m 04s for the mile, 14m 23 for 5000m and 23m 40s for 5 miles. He qualified as a level 4 coach and has gone on to be one of our most respected and successful middle distance coaches.

He has coached athletes who’ve won more than 20 National Senior AAA titles over distances from 800m to 5000m. He has coached names including Diane Edwards (Modahl), Ann Williams (Griffiths), Kevin McKay (pictured with Norman above), Paula Fryer, Craig Winrow, Tom Lancashire, Mike Rimmer and Jon Wild.

He accompanied the GB team at the 2012 London Olympic Games as personal coach to Mike Rimmer.

At Commonwealth Games and European Championships his athletes have achieved 1 Gold and 3 Silver medals, of these one gold and 2 of the silver medals were achieved by Sale Harrier athletes.

His athletes have won 3 English National Cross Country titles.

He was the winner of England Athletics National award 2011 for services to coaching.

He was also the winner of England Athletics North West Regional Awards 2011 for services to coaching.

He accompanied the GB team at the 2008 Bejing Olympics as personal coach to Mike Rimmer and Tom Lancashire.

He was the England’s Endurance Coach at the 2002 Manchester and 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Two of his personal athletes, Kevin McKay and Craig Winrow competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

He accompanied the GB Team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics as personal coach to Diane Edwards.

He was National Event coach from 1990-1997.

He was the GB National Event Coach for 800m and 1500m from 1990 until 1997 during which time he attended numerous World, Olympic and European Championships as an Endurance Team Coach. This included the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where he was also the personal coach to Diane Edwards, Ann Griffiths and Kevin McKay.

He has been The President of the prestigious British Milers Club since 2007 and its Chairman from 1997 until 2007. In both these working roles he has contributed to the growth and development of the BMC. One of his annual achievements for the past 32 years is to promote the BMC Grand Prix at Sportcity every May.

He was invited in 2013 to make a presentation to the European Endurance Conference on ‘Coaching Athletes from Novice to Olympic Games’. Norman’s philosophy to coaching was eloquently expressed in the presentation that he gave.

Norman is an extremely well liked and respected coach and individual and thoroughly deserves this ultimate accolade from the Sale Harriers executive committee.