Stuart Low: Academy Manager - Head Coach.
Stuart was born in Gloucestershire and educated in Harlow Essex. He has played for many clubs in the UK and in the Royal Air Force. He coached the Blues Academy U17 & U19 sides prior to relocating to the USA. During his time in the US he founded the Rugby Academy of Florida and coached the USA South select men and women’s sides before becoming head Coach of the USA National U18 team. Stuart is a RFU Level 3 Coach and RFU/USA Rugby Coach Tutor/Assessor.
Stuart works in IT Programme Management and is married with a daughter and three rugby playing sons.
Stuart manages the Bedford Blues Academy and is Head Coach.
Steve Guest: Under 19s Coach.
Steve was born in Derby and was educated at John Port School, Derby, and De Montfort University. He played for Worcester, De Montfort University, Kempston, Bedford Queens and Bedford Athletic. He has coached at Bedford Athletic, Bedfordshire County Juniors, and in the Junior Blues before becoming Under 19 Colts backs coach. Steve is an RFU Level 2 Coach.
Steve is married, with two young sons, and is a PE teacher in Bedford.
Steve is backs coach for the Blues Under 19 XV.
Mark Alderton - Under 19s Coach
Mark was born in Dunedin New Zealand and educated at Otago Boys High School before completing a bachelors degree in Physical Education from Otago University and a diploma of Secondary Teaching from Dunedin Teachers College. He played for the Kaikorai, Phoenix and Tamaki rugby clubs in New Zealand. Mark coached for two years at Neslon Boys College and two years at Rangitoto College in New Zealand before moving to the UK and joining the Bedford Blues Academy.
Mark is Head of Physical Education at Harrowden Middle School Bedford.
Mark is a level 2 rugby coach in New Zealand and has completed a residential coaching course from the International Rugby Academy.
Martin Elliott - Colts Team Manager
Martin was born in Welwyn Garden City and educated at Hatfield Polytechnic (now known as the University of Hertfordshire). Martin is married with a son who plays rugby and is at University and a daughter who is into rowing and also at University. He is currently working in the Storage & Materials Handling industry and is a Director of a UK subsidiary of a Belgium manufacturer.
Martin is Team Manager for the Blues U19 squad and is responsible for recruiting players and making sure that they turn up to training sessions and fixtures. He is also Team Manager for the East Midlands U17, U18 & U20 sides in his spare (?) time.
His personal interest outside of rugby is playing golf in the little time he has left !
Ben was born in Northampton and educated at Campion Secondary School and Bugbrook Sixth Form College before graduating with an honours degree in Physiotherapy at Brighton University in 2005. He enjoys swimming, skiing, badminton, clay target shooting and running, and aims to run in the next London Marathon, and is about to commence an artificial surface skiing instructors course.
Ben is Senior Physiotherapist in Musculoskeletal Outpatients and Orthopaedics at Milton Keynes Hospital, where his main areas of interest are sports injuries and musculoskeletal outpatients.
Ben has worked at Bedford Blues for two years, starting off gaining experience with the Senior Physiotherapists working with the 1st XV squad. Ben is in charge of the medical cover for the Academy, assists with the 1st XV, and is responsible for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injured players along with pitch side management and sport first aid.
Harriet Cole - Sports Therapist
Harriet was born in Bedford and educated at Sharnbrook Upper School before graduating with an honours degree in Sports Therapy in 2006 from the University of Hertfordshire. Harriet’s personal interests are within sports and fitness. She has achieved recognition at county, national, and international level for horse riding. She is also a keen runner and is currently in training for several half marathons with her long term aim to complete the London Marathon in 2008.
Harriet works in a private practice in the BMI Manor Hospital Biddenham, with her main interests in injury assessment, rehabilitation and sports massage.
Harriet works with the Under 19 squad and is responsible for their match day medical cover, injury assessment and subsequent rehabilitation programmes.
