Meet the team


  • Founder and Owner

    A primary school teacher for 13 years, our Founder Sally-May has gained extensive experience in coaching sport to primary-aged children. As a club-level netball player and swimmer, she wanted to pass on her love of sport to her own children but felt there was a lack of opportunity for children to access a variety of coached sports from a young age, thus the creation of Children’s Sports Academy. Sally-May is a Gymnastics Activity Instructor certified by British Gymnastics.


  • Our coaching staff is made up of highly qualified individuals including P.E specialists, professional sports coaches and certified individuals. Each coach will have an experienced assistant to support group activities.


  • Lead Coach

    Ailsa is our P.E specialist, a role she has held as a primary school teacher for over 20 years. She is a Forest Schools and Outdoor Education specialist and delivers these programmes across Edinburgh and Midlothian schools. Ailsa is a qualified fitness instructor, personal trainer and sports coach, as well as achieving SFA Level 1 in football coaching, SRU Level 1 Rugby coaching. Ailsa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Children's Sports Academy and we feel very lucky to have her.

  • Lead Football Coach

    Colin began his coaching journey 15 years ago coaching both children and adults in Edinburgh. He has achieved SFA’s Children’s Coaching Award 1.1 and 1.2. Colin is currently a coach in Loanhead Miners Youth Football Club where he inspires the children he coaches and shares his valuable experience. Outside of football, Colin has worked as an Early Years Practitioner in Edinburgh nurseries for nearly 20 years where he has gained training in Sports Development Skills for Children, Forest Schools and Additional Supports Needs. He says,

    “I apply the same values of inclusion, teamwork and respect to my coaching as I do being an EYP. They are so important to the development of a child whether that be on the football pitch or not. I’d describe my coaching style as something which promotes these values with a huge spoonful of fun and sprinkles of competition of course!”


  • Assistant Gymnastics Coach

    A former competitive gymnast, Khloe has rediscovered her love of the sport since becoming a volunteer at Lasswade Gymnastics Club, assisting in coaching recreational gymnastics sessions. She is preparing to undertake her Gymnastics Activity Instructor qualification in August 2023 and begin leading her own gymnastics sessions. Outside of Children’s Sports Academy, Khloe is an Early Years Practitioner who has a real talent and passion for working with children.

  • Coach

    Finlay plays hockey to a very high standard representing Inverleith Hockey Club men’s team. This year, he was part of the double winning team in Scotland’s U18 Boys Hockey Championship taking first place for both indoor and field hockey. Finlay trains as part of the Brave Academy, Scotland’s pathway to representing your country, something which Finlay hopes to achieve some day. He has also been a part of the East Lothian’s Performance Athletes in Schools programme for the last three years. Finlay is a talented rugby player, footballer and tennis player and has decided to concentrate solely on hockey. He loves working with younger children and thrives on passing on his enthusiasm for sport to those he coaches at Children’s Sports Academy.