From the rugby field to the boardroom...
Former rugby league player is the founder of property risk consultancy business SAFE Environmental Ltd. Here, the former Huddersfield, Batley and Manly Sea Eagles star tells his story of life growing up on a council estate, playing professional RL and starting a successful business which has recently been awarded a major contract with the largest nuclear power station in Europe
IWAS born in 1980 and was brought up on Walpole council estate in Crosland Moor until I was 10. It’s where my mum and dad grew up and most of my family. There’s a lot of good people who live on council estates and sometimes, they get a bad name. But I had some great times growing up on Walpole and Crosland Moor.
My dad, Mick Bostock, was just starting to play for Fartown and we moved from Walpole to Crosland Moor just over the hill. I’d just started playing for Underbank Rangers then and was getting into rugby league. My dad played for Fartown for four years and was captain for part of that, but three serious injuries stopped short his career.
I studied at Moor End High
School and throughout those years played for Huddersfield junior intertown teams.
I left school and went straight to work washing cars at Bristol Street Motors on Leeds Road where my uncle was the managing director. I was going to be trained as a salesman, but I was getting pretty good at
rugby and had to decide if I worked weekends or played rugby.
I signed for Wakefield Academy when I was 17, then when I was 18 signed for Huddersfield Giants Academy where Brian Blacker, now commercial manager at the Giants, and Paul Dixon where my coaches.
The season after Huddersfield merged with Sheffield, and I signed again for the under 21s half-way through the season I was asked by John Kear to sign a full-time contract to progress further, which I did.
What a lot of people don’t know is I signed the contract in the morning, and unfortunately broke my leg playing against Hull that evening. I still have the plate and seven screws in my leg to this day.
I came back the season after but sustained a double hernia in preseason which again had to be operated on.
I moved to Batley the year after and we came third in the league which was one of the best seasons in Batley history, however, I was given the opportunity to go and play in Australia for a local team which played in the Manly District league.
So, me and my mate who was also at Huddersfield and Batley with me, decided it would be a great experience, so we went over together.
After 10 games I was asked to go and trial for the reserve grade at Manly Sea Eagles by Goff Toovey and Darrell Williams. I was picked and played 10 games before injury struck again and I had to have a major operation, this time my shoulder.
I came back home to Huddersfield and decided my body had had ability to take advantage of bespoke, brand new kit for a range of exercises including weightlifting, powerlifting and cardio.
The gym also offers personal training and over 46 classes from HIIT and strength workshops to women only lift classes and a family bootcamps, so there is something for everyone.
Lana added: “At Ironside we want to make sure clients get the most out of their training whatever their current fitness levels and goals. The Ironside team will provide encouragement and motivation making clients feel confident and inspired to succeed.”
Membership is £25 per month with discounts available for military, NHS staff and emergency services.
■Ironside Fitness is open between 6am and 10pm from Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
enough and needed a career away from rugby league.
I worked for a company called OHS, which dealt with all aspects of commercial property compliance. I started on site and quickly moved my way up the corporate ladder. After eight years I was being moulded to takeover as managing director once the incumbent had retired.
By this time, I was married to Katie and we had our first child I was earning a six-figure salary and decided it would be a good idea to start my own company conducting the same services. My colleagues and friends said I was mad and maybe they were right – but I went ahead with it anyway.
The first year I turned over a quarter of my salary and thought what have I done? Shall I ask for my job back? I persevered and now operate a successful business which has been trading for six years largely managing asbestos statutory compliance for commercial properties.
We work predominantly with commercial properties. Our clients range from the NHS to high street retailers to construction companies.
Within last couple of months, we were awarded a major contract with the largest nuclear power station in Europe to help improve and manage their asbestos compliance.
With the close association my family have with the Giants and, to continue our good working relationship, we are delighted to say we are the main sponsor for the Huddersfield Giants players warm-up shirts this season.