Welcome to Mark Eccleston Consultancy
and Coaching

In 1986, at the age of 16, I had just left school, successfully completed my O levels and was hopefully looking forward to a successful rugby league career. However in the summer of 86 I was involved in an accident in which I severed my spinal cord. As a result I am now tetraplegic, paralysed and a full time wheelchair user.

 

During my 7-month stay in hospital I was introduced to wheelchairs sports as part of my rehab. On leaving hospital I won gold in table tennis at the 1987 National Wheelchair Games. It was here where I was introduced to the sport of Wheelchair Rugby. In 1992 I captained Southport to the National Title and between 1992 and 1996 I captained Great Britain in 2 International Games Finals and the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. I was also the first British player to play a season in America when I signed for Tampa in 1994.

 

After Atlanta I needed a new challenge so I took up wheelchair tennis. I have since won 7 National titles and in 2002 I became the first British player ever to be No 1 on the Singles World Ranking. I was the first British player ever to be No1 on the Doubles World ranking. I was also a member of the first British team ever to win the World Team Cup (Davis Cup of wheelchair tennis) and I won a Silver Medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

 

I AM AN ATHLETE THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL BOTH AS A TEAM MEMBER AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

 

After Athens I retired from competing and I am now in demand as a motivational and inspirational speaker. I got into speaking after attending a speakers bootcamp run by the English Institute of Sport and the Internationally renowned speaker, Frank Furness. I talk about my determination to deal with my accident at such a young age and what it took to be one of the best wheelchair athletes in the world.

 

I have also written a book about my life which was awarded book of the week in The Independent and has just been released titled “Pushing the Limits” published by psychology news.

 

After Athens I took my LTA tennis coaching Qualification and in January 2006 I became the first tetraplegic to qualify as a tennis coach.

 

I am also part of the Sporting Champions scheme, a Sport England funded initiative in which elite athletes visit schools to talk about the benefits of sport and a healthy lifestyle.