Since 1987 Michael has been involved in American Football both in the UK and in the United States.  He played for 10 years with Huddersfield and Yorkshire as an offensive lineman; playing Centre, Guard and Tackle throughout his career.  Injury brought his time as a player to an end in 1997 and after 4 years away he returned as a coach with Yorkshire, Sheffield Hallam University and finally as Offensive Coordinator with Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie team.  

 

He became the CEO of the Yorkshire Rams in 2006 and was responsible for their move to the prestigious South Leeds Stadium and also created their Youth and Junior programmes.  Michael left the Rams in 2008 to become Offensive Coordinator at Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie Sports Faculty and continued there through 5 winning seasons, reaching the national playoffs twice.

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After seeing the potential of the sport to shape and change young lives, in 2013 Michael created the Leeds Academy of American Football at Leeds Beckett University with the help of former player turned coach Dale Bottomley, the Carnegie Faculty and Sport England.  The original aim was to have a fully volunteer staff and reach out to a handful of Leeds based schools.  

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Within 6 months the Academy installed Dale as manager and in the first year totally exceeded targets and reach out to over 3000 children across 35 educational institutes in the North of England.  

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Today the Academy works with a selection of paid and volunteer coaches working across the North as well as a number of satellite clubs across the region.  Its aim: To develop young people's discipline, communication skills, physical literacy and physical activity levels through a clear and progressive pathway of American Football participation.

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The Academy has three main strands, the non contact 5-14 year old's league, the UFL.  The U17s Junior Varsity Assassins team funded by a £10,000 Sport England grant and the U19s Varsity team, which sent two players to North American High Schools last year to study and play American Football.