I was a professional footballer, now I run a gym with a focus on mental health
A former footballer is offering more than just a workout at his gym thanks to a series of mental health initiatives.
Former Gateshead, Blackburn Rovers, Carlisle United and Blyth Spartans player Connor Thomson founded CTP training in 2023 as a way to support mental health efforts in the community.
The male-only small group personal training facility in Northumberland has now impacted the lives of more than 150 men across the North East.
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Sessions at the site are capped at 12 people and run six days per week.
Connor explained: “I started CTP Training after realising the men’s group sessions I was running at my old gym were where I was really making a difference. Men were opening up, pushing themselves, and finding mates who understood them in my classes.
“I wanted to give more men the same chance. Closing my old business and going all in with CTP Training was the best decision I ever made.”
Thomson spent eight years in football before turning away from the game to support his business interests.
“We know walking into a gym for the first time can feel intimidating,” hecontinues. “At CTP, the second you step through the door, you’re part of the team. You’ll train hard, but you’ll also connect, laugh, and leave feeling on top of the world. That’s the CTP standard.”
For Connor, the connection between physical and mental health is deeply personal. “I’ve struggled with my own mental health for a few years now and gone through hours of therapy. That helped me massively, but training is the thing I rely on every day. It’s my therapy.
“If I’m having a bad day, I get myself to the gym, move, and I feel 100 times better. That’s what I want to give to others. The chance to feel like themselves again.”
“Members come in wanting to change physically, but it’s the mental changes that blow me away,” Connor added. “The confidence, the resilience, the friendships. That’s the biggest win for me.”
At just 29 years old, Connor is ambitious about the future of CTP Training. Having already helped more than 150 men across the North East, he plans to reach hundreds more in the coming years.
“Our vision is simple. We want to keep growing and help as many men as possible. Too many are struggling in silence. Walking through our doors could be the first step in changing your life. We’ll keep doing everything we can to make CTP the best training experience and the strongest community for men out there.”