A football legend will be in Aberdeenshire next week to open the first gym of its kind in Scotland.
Alan Shearer – the Premier League’s top goal scorer of all time – will be in Laurencekirk on Wednesday as the town’s Newlife Fitness Club becomes Scotland’s first Speedflex gym.
The Mearns town’s only non-council gym was established by local couple Gary and Sally Fairweather and has now undergone a £40,000 transformation in order to become part of the Speedflex empire.
TV football pundit Mr Shearer, an ambassador for Speedflex Europe Ltd will be in Laurencekirk specifically to open the centre and train alongside members during two 30-minute workouts.
Mr Fairweather, 32, said he and his wife were looking forward to celebrating a new chapter for their business.
“I am a personal trainer, a few years ago we moved out to Australia then moved back to Laurencekirk – where I was born – and realised there was nothing in this area like there was in Australia,” he said.
“It took us about a year-and-a-half before we got the land and built the gym ourselves.
“Back in October we were approached by Speedflex. In the first visit to meet them down to Newcastle I met Shearer and he couldn’t be any nicer to us, he’s excited about coming up and seeing it. Everyone respects what he has done in the game.”
The former England captain scored 283 Premier League goals in an 18-year career, which included a decade with his beloved Newcastle United.
The football star has credited high intensity Speedflex sessions – which combine cardio and resistance training – with maintaining his fitness after his football career.
Mr Fairweather added: “The whole thing about Speedflex is anyone can do it, the harder you push it; the harder it will push you. It gives you little or no muscle pain.”