Prem star opening 24-hour town gym
AFORMER Premier League footballer will open Southport’s first 24-hour gym next month.
Brett Ormerod, who made more than 200 appearances in two spells for Blackpool, retired in 2015 after continuing his career part-time.
He also played for Southampton in the top flight and Preston North End during his career and has resisted the urge to make a coaching career.
He will instead open the Anytime Fitness gym in the Ribble Building in Lord Street.
The gym will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the owners are aiming to open mid-July.
Ormerod has bought the franchise with wife Lisa and will run the business alongside his media work on BBC radio.
He said: “I finished football a couple of years ago and I didn’t really want to go into coaching.
“All my mates are doing their badges but there aren’t many jobs unless you know someone so I fancied doing something different.
“We’re not the low budget gym but we’re also not the David Lloyd topend, we’re in the middle.
“We’ve got top facilities though and the equipment we’ve got is the best available.
“It’s a community thing as well, we’re not just going to be a gym that pops up to take your money and doesn’t care.
“We’ve got a separate disabled entrance and we want to ensure we offer classes to suit everyone in the community.’’
The company’s application to the council said: “Anytime Fitness members can work out at their convenience.
“Gym members would use a security access key fob to enter the club at all times, even when it is not staffed. “Members who use Anytime Fitness clubs outside normal hours usually comprise shift workers, such as community servants, nurses and correctional, police and fire officers.
“Other anticipated users of the proposed gym would include residents of the surrounding area, members of staff working in the nearby retail park, and other members from the local community who are keen to maintain their fitness and well-being.”