MatchFit Movement is passionate about developing the physical capabilities of children and adolescents and helping them fall in love with being active for life. Whether the goal is to improve fitness for sport or simply to enjoy moving, we create an environment where young people can build competence, confidence, and a lifelong connection to physical activity.
Unique to MatchFit Movement is that our team of coaches includes coaching practitioners who are also active researchers and educators in the field of youth athletic development training and motor learning (here). In addition, they share extensive experience working in professional, elite, and clinical settings across a range of different sports including football, basketball, rugby, Gaelic football, and diving.
Dr Mark Williams, PhD
Mark is a UKSCA accredited strength and conditioning coach, and a senior lecturer and researcher with a special interest in youth athletic development and motor learning.
Mark has a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science, which focused on the importance of fundamental movement skills in the physical development of youth basketball players.
Mark has extensive experience as a coach and educator, having taught and coached since 2005. Positions he has held include Head of Strength and Conditioning at Southend United Football Club (2011-2017), Strength and Conditioning Lead to Great Britain Men’s and Women’s Basketball Squads (2015-2018), and currently the Strength and Conditioning Lead to Basketball England. In 2022, Mark oversaw the physical preparation of the Men’s and Women’s 3×3 Basketball Squads at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
In addition, Mark has provided strength and conditioning support to athletes across different sports and levels, including rugby, netball, and track and field. Mark continues to research in the area of youth athletic development, exploring how to best coach young people to improve their physical capabilities, enhance their physical and mental wellbeing, and increase performance. Through MatchFit Movement, Mark aims to provide children and young people with the opportunities to harness healthy habits and behaviours through movement and physical activity.
Dr Jason Moran, PhD
Jason is a prolific researcher in the field of youth athletic development and strength and conditioning, with 150+ publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, and is ranked in the top 10 globally for muscle strength research (ExpertScape). Accordingly, Jason brings a wealth of expertise in relation to maturity timing and effective athletic development training strategies .
In his PhD thesis, titled the effectiveness of resistance, plyometric and sprint training at different stages of maturation in male youth athletes, Jason examined the responsiveness of youth populations to different training types across different phases of maturation. His research has been cited many times and has heavily influenced the strength and conditioning practices of those working with youth athletes.
Jason is a UKSCA accredited strength and conditioning coach, with vast experience working with athletes across different ages and sports, including rugby union and Gaelic football. As a former professional rugby player, having represented Leinster and Ireland U21, Jason has a deep appreciation of high performance environments.
Dr Jorge Arede, PhD
Jorge is a sports scientist and coach specialising in youth athletic development, with a PhD focused on monitoring and developing sports performance in young athletes. An active researcher with over 60 peer-reviewed publications, he also lectures at different universities. He applies his expertise, authoring a strength and conditioning curriculum for an Erasmus+ certified coaching programme, contributing to practical manuals for training female youth athletes.
Jorge’s extensive coaching career began in 2005 in youth basketball, having experience in Portugal and Spain. He served for three years as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Portuguese U16 Men’s Basketball National Team and has provided personalised preparation for professional footballers. His applied experience is broad, having worked as a strength and conditioning coach within a sports talent hub, designing programmes for athletes aged 6-18 across sports including football, swimming, modern pentathlon, handball, tennis table, athletics, basketball, and motor racing.
To support his methodology, Jorge holds a suite of world-renowned certifications, including the NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES), ISAK Anthropometrist, Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Level 1, and EXOS Performance Specialist.
Noel Cowman
With a career spanning back to 1992, Noel Cowman is one of Ireland’s most experienced and respected fitness professionals. He has worked across elite sport, youth development, rehabilitation, and high-performance environments for over three decades. To support this practice, over this timeframe, Noel has accumulated an extensive range of qualifications, including the National Coaching & Education Foundation from the University of Limerick, the NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, and ITEC in Sports Massage Therapy.
Noel specialises in improving movement quality, developing strength, enhancing performance, and reducing injury risk through evidence-based training and real-world experience.
Noel’s experience within youth development and performance settings, includes working as strength and conditioning coach to the Dublin GAA Academy, head of strength and conditioning to Home Farm FC (senior playing squad and youth academy) and Fingallians GAA.
In addition to this, Noel has worked with and consulted to many professional and high-performance sports organisations, including the Welsh and Italian national rugby squads, the Republic of Ireland’s senior football team, Celtic Football Club, and Millwall Football Club.
In-person delivery
Supporting our young athletes
Briony Findlay
Briony has a Bachelor’s degree from Oxford Brookes University in Geography and Sports Coaching & Physical Education. The modules she studied included Strength and Conditioning and Sports Pedagogy.
Briony has experience as a Team Leader, Lead Coach, Lead Instructor as well as a Sports Development Officer and Manager. She is qualified to coach and instruct in numerous physical activity sessions including Athletics, Archery, Kayaking and Paddle Boarding. In addition, Briony is currently working towards the UK Strength and Conditioning Association’s Trainer’s Award.
Within the last 10 years Briony has coached for a range of participants with varying needs and outcome goals. She has also designed and led on physical activity projects; predominantly focusing on youth and vulnerable populations such as those with SEND. She is a level 3 qualified safeguarding lead and has completed mental health in sport training which she uses to assist in the pastoral care of our athletes.
Briony volunteers and works for multiple organisations that encourage and promote physical activity. This includes facilitating counsellors in outdoor therapy practices, delivering DofE expeditions and marshalling at large scale cross country events.
Briony is inspired by participants and enjoys being able to see firsthand the mental, physical, and social benefits individuals gain by participating in physical activity and hopes to help young people develop and meet their personal goals.
Madison Harris
Madison (Madi) graduated from The Loughborough University with first-class honours degree in Sport and Exercise science BSc, where she was also she awarded Peer Mentor of the Year in 2025. In addition, Madi is currently working towards Accrediation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association.
As an former track athlete, Madi was selected for the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme in 2020-2022. However, it was football that Madi was most drawn to until, unfortunately, she sustained an ACL rupture and a meniscal root tear whilst at Loughborough, resulting in surgery.
After extensive rehabilitation, Madi shifted her focus from playing to coaching, enabling her to channel her love and energy for sports into supporting young athletes. To date, Madi’s coaching experience includes athletics, with a particular focus on running form, and football, where she has coached at a grassroots level as well as one of the Loughborough University Women’s football teams.
Through her strong passion for sport and exercise science, Madi is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and supporting the growth and development of individuals. You can also check out Madi’s tricks and ball skills on her YouTube page @madiharris04, which is intended to inspire and motivate young females through sports and physical activity.
Location
Our classes are delivered at the Rayleigh MegaCentre, 7 Brook Rd, Rayleigh SS6 7UT.