MEET THE TEAM
Get to know a little about our coaches.
Liam George
Founder / Senior Physiotherapist
I made my debut for Luton Town Football Club aged 17 and went on to enjoy twelve years as a professional footballer. Scoring the winning penalty to win the Under 18 European Championships for Ireland in 1998 was my greatest achievement but for all the great highs there were also low points.
On the downside I was also a regular on the treatment table – sadly injuries went hand in hand with my career. In total I had to undergo 10 surgical procedures ranging from having my ankle complex rebuilt to various knee surgeries and several broken legs. I’ve always had an optimistic outlook and it was during those long periods on the sidelines that my fascination with physiotherapy, health and wellbeing began to grow. Rehabilitation has been a massive part of my life not only as a physiotherapist but as a professional and amateur sportsperson also.
I qualified as a level 3 reps (register of exercise professionals) personal trainer at the back end of my football career before making the transition into personal training and strength and conditioning coaching before going on to study BSc Physiotherapy at the University of Salford.
With the support of the Professional Football Association (PFA) I gained a BSc Honours Degree in Physiotherapy.
Since graduating I have gained a wealth of experience in the health and fitness industry. In the last ten years I have worked at several private health clubs and gyms and also spent time working in the NHS in a neurological unit as a physiotherapy assistant. Off the back of this I was offered a job in the private sector within one of the UKs leading physiotherapy companies.
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I started Liam George Physiotherapy in 2013 with the aim of providing the highest possible level of healthcare accessible to everyone. My aim is to provide my clients with my expertise which, I continue to develop utilising my network in professional sport and also private healthcare. Providing my clients with a variety of treatment strategies harnessed from the highest levels of healthcare and sport.
Josie Meatyard
Founder / Senior Coach
I have been in the fitness industry for over twenty years after an injury when trying to qualify as a stuntwoman led me to spend time with Physiotherapists and ultimately surgery which sparked my interest in helping others become fit, healthy and strong.
I completed a course in Sports therapy, fitness instruction, Personal and group training and I found my passion! I qualified as a Level 3 Personal Trainer and proceeded to work in commercial gyms.
I worked my way up from Fitness instructor, Fitness Manager, Personal Trainer, Class teacher and Studio Co-ordinator. It was being a fitness class teacher that led me to the love of group training after becoming qualified in 4 different Les Mills classes BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyAttack, BodyJam along with Spin, Circuits and Synergize.
It was around 2007 I decided to set up my own Personal Training business, at first I ran from people’s homes until the birth of my daughter in 2008, I then decided to turn my home garage into a gym. I’ve been helping people achieve health, fitness and fat loss ever since!
I have a keen interest in both nutrition and hormones and have completed many courses to date but I am continually researching these subjects so that my clients can achieve their goals healthily.
I have personally competed in many sports including, Triathlon, Netball, Athletics, Kick Boxing and two World Championships representing Great Britain In Kung Fu. On the flip side of that I have been over weight and have a many injuries including spine and shoulder surgery, which I believe puts me in a position of understanding when speaking with and training many of my clients.
Tom Hooker
Coach
Hi I'm Tom Hooker, I am an ultra marathon runner and I am extremely passionate about health and well being. So far in my athletic career, I have run 9 ultra marathons. It all started in lockdown when my football team held a running charity event. Since then I run nearly everyday and it has been like a daily meditation for me. During my teenage years, I played table tennis at a very high level, playing many regional and national tournaments. Many people over the years have called me a real life forest gump. My biggest credit to date and hopefully many more to come was when i came 2nd in a 125km mountain ultra marathon in the Azores, in which I have been invited to the world championships in 2024 which I'm working towards to push my own boundaries and grow as a person as well as a runner.
I am super excited to be a part of The Movement Place family. Health and fitness is my biggest passion! I look forward to helping you all on your wellness journeys and in return hopefully lots of laughter , fun and hard work along the way.
Martina McIntyre
Coach
After 35 years service in the NHS as a nurse and midwife, Martina has switched her focus to fitness and wellbeing.
Martina is a qualified level 3 personal trainer, certified group instructor, and an accredited antenatal and postnatal fitness coach. With her BA (Hons) degree in women’s health, she has experience in all aspects of women’s health including the challenge of living through the menopause.
Outside of personal training you’ll find Martina looking after her grandson or running (occasionally you’ll find her doing both). She has run numerous half and full marathons, the highlight of which was winning a number of local races for her age category.
Martina is our go to trainer for older adults, keeping pregnant women and new mums fit, and of course running.
Joe Powell
Coach
I decided to become a personal trainer to show that training is for everyone, not just for a select few. I saw that too many gyms were focusing on people building huge amounts of muscle, instead of helping people to move more, feel better and have fun!
For me, Personal Training is all about understanding that people come in all shapes and sizes, with different skills, training experience, and fitness levels. Everything I do is all about the individual and how I can help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be.
Some people want to run a marathon whereas others just want to feel better, drop a dress size, or simply have more energy to play with their grandkids.
The focus here at The Movement Place perfectly aligns with my vision of what exercise really is.
Sam Hazel
Coach
Hi I am Sam Hazel and I'm an athlete who trains and competes at a national and international level on a regular basis. I also have plenty of experience in football, as I played for Luton Town Football Club’s Academy for seven years.
While I studied Sport and Exercise Science at University, I got my reps level 2 and 3 qualifications for gym instruction and personal training.
Participating in sport has demonstrated to me that hard work, dedication and working within a team are all vital in achieving success, but the most important thing is to have fun! I am extremely passionate about sport and relish the opportunity to work with themovementplace members, and help them reach their health and fitness goals!
Matt Spring
Coach
Hi I’m Matt Spring and I’ve been working as a Personal Trainer for 5 years. I set up my own gym from home and got some amazing results with my clients.
I qualified through Premier Training International with a Level 2 Diploma in Health and Fitness (QCF) and a Level 3 Diploma in Firness Instructing and Personal Training.
Prior to this I spent 22 years as a Professional Footballer with some great highs at some fantastic clubs. The amazing feeling of scoring goals in front of thousands of people is something that will never leave me. My greatest achievement was most definitely my promotion to the Premier League in 2006/7.
Nothing can compare to the feeling you get when after 10 months of hard work, you reach your goal of playing in the best league in the world. I am now looking forward to moving on to a new and exciting project at The Movement Place, where I hope to help others reach their goals like I did!