who we are
About Pitchside First Aid
At Pitchside First Aid, we believe everyone has the power to make a difference when it matters most. That’s why we provide accredited, hands-on training designed to give individuals, coaches, players, clubs, and organisations the skills to respond quickly and effectively to injuries and emergencies.
Our courses include Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), First Aid at Work (FAW), and Specialist Sports Strapping and Taping Workshops. Every session is practical, engaging, and tailored to real-life situations, helping participants build the confidence to act when it counts.
Founded by qualified Sports Therapists with years of First Aid and pitchside experience, we bring practical expertise and a passion for teaching into every course.
Our mission is simple, to empower people to Be Ready, Be confident, and Be the Difference. Whether at home, at work, or on the field.
Whether you’re a parent wanting to be prepared, a coach safeguarding your team, a club supporting volunteers, or a company looking for accredited workplace training, Pitchside First Aid is here to equip you with the skills that save lives.
Meet Ash and Mel
We’re Ash and Mel, co-founders of Pitchside First Aid Ltd. With extensive experience as Sports Therapists, we’ve delivered first aid and pitchside care across American football and rugby at both national and international levels.
Ash is both an Athlete and a Therapist, with over 10 years' experience in Sports Therapy. Before qualifying as a therapist, he was part of the Great Britain Lions American Football Squad, competing at a high level and gaining first-hand insight into the demands placed on athletes. Alongside this, he worked pitchside with national squads, supporting players in both training and competition. His career later expanded into frontline emergency care, first with the Ambulance Service and then as a Firefighter, a role he continues to hold today as an operational firefighter. This unique combination of athletic background, Sports Therapy expertise, and ongoing frontline emergency experience means Ash knows how to stay calm under pressure, act quickly, and deliver care in both competitive and critical situations.
Mel is a highly experienced Sports Therapist with over 20 years of clinical and academic expertise. She has worked nationally and internationally with a wide range of athletes and teams, including the Great Britain Lions American Football Team and elite Great Britain athletes, providing hands-on therapy and pitchside care. Alongside her clinical work, Mel built a distinguished academic career as a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Sports Therapy, where she taught and mentored the next generation of therapists. She also served as Chair of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at a leading university and now continues her EDI work as a consultant, delivering training and supporting organisations to create more inclusive environments.
Together, their experiences have shown how vital it is to have the right skills when it matters most. That’s why they’re passionate about teaching first aid, passing on their knowledge in a way that equips people not only with the skills, but also with the confidence to step up and make a difference.
Be Ready. Be Confident. Be the Difference.