Surridge, Terry – A sportsman for all seasons

Terry Surridge (b1941 )

BORN in Castlegate, Grantham, where he lived up to leaving town, Terry Surridge was keen on all sport.

He went first to the National School, then King’s School. He was a member of Grantham School of Boxing before turning to powerlifting, becoming a member of Grantham Physical Culture Club.

His teaching career began in Grantham in 1959. Aged 18 he was given a one-year student teacher position at St Wulfram’s School, under the guidance of Mike Bundy, later chairman of Grantham Athletic Club.

At the time, powerlifting was his main sport, although he once had to play in the in the girls netball team against a boys team from Stubton.

From there, he went to a teaching college in York for three years before moving into the profession in Manchester in 1963.

After taking early retirement from teaching he stayed on at the college as director of finance and had to write the bid that enabled the school to gain sports college status, which it got, and he became director of sports at Wright Robinson Sports College, Manchester. Terry was also responsible for establishing the college football academy in 1999,

He was a Grantham Town fan but now supports Altrincham, because of his affinity with non-league football. He still has a soft spot for the Gingerbreads and is a life member.

Terry is currently researching a history of Altrincham FC  and he has carried out extensive research over many years on the origins and development of the Club.

He was at the heart of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 with a prominent role in the weightlifting competition as a member of the technical committee.

In 2019 he ceieved Manchester’s People’s Champion award, supported by the Manchester Evening News, which was presented by cricketer Keaton Jennings and Chris Ostick from the M.E.N.

Terry had a long history of success in sports coaching and administration across Manchester.

Since 1973 he has worked in Gorton, where he started coaching weightlifting in school and his club – Team Manchester.

Terry’s achievements within weightlifting are extensive, organising the British Schools’ Championships and coaching youngsters who successfully competed across the globe.

Individuals under Terry’s tutorage took part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004 in an all-Manchester England team.

In retirement, his commitment has never waned and he travels several times a week and at weekends to Gorton to coach young people and adults in the sport he loves.