Meet the Team

Strength and Conditioning Manager

Allan Gartshore

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2190

Allan Gartshore has worked within the Department of Sport and Exercise for several years now and brings a wealth of practical training experience to the table. Having competed in several different sports (including football, kickboxing and triathlon) he understands what it takes to compete at a high level.

Over the years Allan has picked up many fitness qualifications and has several years experience working as a Personal Trainer and Gym Instructor, before moving into a more sports performance based role. Allan has been an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC), with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association since 2008 and continues to attend all the workshop and conferences available, to ensure he remains at the cutting edge of applied research.

As well as his work for the University, Allan also works part-time with the Scottish Institute of Sport, as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, as well as working with Dundee United Football Club – providing both field based, and gym based strength and conditioning support.

In 2009 Allan was instrumental in launching the successful Saints Sport Intern programme, which provides University students with the opportunity to gain practical experience working in the sporting environment. This initiative continues to gain momentum and is becoming a much sought after commodity for the University students.

Allan is passionate about his job and is always reading the latest scientific sports journals and publications, but he also enjoys trawling the internet for anything that will broaden his training knowledge.

Interns

Ali Smith

Ali has worked in the fitness industry for 5 years in a variety of roles. He is currently studying Sport Therapy while working at Saints Sport as a personal trainer and heal physiotherapy as a sport massage therapist. He has a keen interest in S&C and has gained experience over the past 4 years at Saints Sport through courses and supporting a variety of teams and individuals. Ali is now a lead intern and hopes to continue developing. Outside of work Ali enjoys a wide range of sport as was a keen Rugby player who now enjoys climbing and weightlifting.

Gregor Smith

Gregor graduated with first-class honours in Strength in Conditioning for Abertay University in 2021, but has been involved in S&C coaching since 2017. Since then he has worked with a number of athletes in sports such as football, hockey, rugby and tennis, and has been lucky enough to intern with Dundee FC, Scottish Rugby, and the University of St Andrews. This has lead to his current role as head of S&C at Perthshire RFC, and as an S&C coach assisting the water-polo and volleyball teams at St Andrews. Away from S&C, I work at home on my family dairy farm, and play rugby for Howe of Fife RFC in Cupar.

Mhia Mouat

Mhia is in her final year of BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning at Abertay University. She has been leading the SAINTS women’s lacrosse team for their S&C sessions, she hopes to see the progression of the female lacrosse team for the remainder of the academic year. Mhia has experience in leading the general public and sports teams for fitness and conditioning sessions and intends to further her coaching experience during her internship, and complete her UKSCA accreditation. Mhia trains and competes in track and field outside of coaching, aiming to continually improve on her 100m and 200m sprint times, and will hope to qualify for the 2023 Island Games Team representing the Shetland Islands.

Dayna Underwood

Dayna is a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science graduate and will be studying a Masters in Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret University at the start of next year. She has experience as an assistant coach in gymnastics and netball as well as supporting Dundee Football Academy as a Sport and Exercise Science intern. Outside of coaching Dayna enjoys canoeing, paddle boarding and socialising with family and friends.