AN inspirational coach is marking a quarter of a century with a popular local athletics club.

Alan O'Rourke joined Greenock Glenpark Harriers 26 years ago and has spent over 20 of those as a coach.

The 54-year-old, who is senior adult coach, says the club, which is 125-years-old, has been so successful because it is welcoming and family orientated.

It has also grown over the decades that Alan has been involved.

He said: "We have over 300 members, 220 adults and 100 juniors. When I joined we had 65 members."

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Alan, who lives in Newton Street with his wife Suzy, started as a runner then swiftly became a trainer after his daughter Emma wanted to get involved.

He said: "It was Emma who got me into coaching, she was nine when I joined and a couple of years later there was a big influx of juniors in the club. From half a dozen it went up to 50 kids, so I felt I had to help in the club."

The running bug she developed in Greenock has taken Emma, who is now 33, to the other side of the world. She lives in New Plymouth, on the North Island in New Zealand.

Alan said: "Emma is a manager of a sports shop and she coaches running out there too.

"They've got an Esplanade that is 10km and an outdoor pool. Her town is one the top three small towns in the world according to a survey in Lonely Planet."

Alan says he enjoys giving something back to his community.

He said: "I like helping people.

"I coached juniors up until 2013 and my age group now is 18 to 79, at the same session.

"I coach three times a week and the big training session is on a Wednesday when we can get up to 60 people.

"But it's not just about the running. There is the social aspect too.

"During the summer we train at the Battery Park and all over Inverclyde and in the winter we train a lot on the Esplanade, in Port Glasgow and the Well Park. It keeps it fresh and also opens the club up to people in different areas of Inverclyde."

Alan works as a programme manager at Coulport and he and Suzy also have twin sons Jack and Michael, 24, who are professional musicians.

One of his highlights during his time with Glenpark has been coaching top talents like Shelby Morrison.

Alan said: "Shelby won the national cross country title and we are the only junior club member in history ever to have won it."

He has also coached few runners in the Scotland Masters (over 40s) category.

Alan said: "I tend to use a light touch and humour when I'm coaching. There are no superstars, the fastest 5k runner in the club is treated the same as everyone else."

The club stalwart is no slouch when it comes to gaining medals himself and has won a few at district and West of Scotland team level.

He smiled: "Running is my passion, I still run but I am getting slower.

"I still train six days  a week and go to the gym and I did an Ironman Triathlon a couple of years ago."

Glenpark Harriers meet Monday, Wednesday and Sunday and Alan says anyone can come along for a four-week trial.

*For more information about the club, people can contact them via their Facebook page, website, on Instagram, or email greenockglenparkharriers@gmail.co.uk