Glasgow Life's Head of Sport, Alan Milner, is retiring

Alan Milner, Glasgow Life’s Head of Sport, will be retiring in August this year after 31 years with Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council and nearly 40 years working in the sport and fitness industry.

A process to find a new Head of Sport and Physical Activity is underway, led by Saxton Bampfylde.

Alan began his career near London in 1987 before taking up positions at the Magnum Leisure Centre in Irvine.

He joined Glasgow City Council in 1995 for the opening of the Scotstoun Leisure Centre as a Senior Assistant Manager in the Parks and Recreation Department.

He was appointed Community Recreation Manager in April 2006 and moved to Glasgow Life when the charity was formed in 2007.

In 2011, Alan became Group Operations Manager for Sport as the city invested heavily in major new sports facilities ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and was seconded to work with the Glasgow Life Special Projects team on the design, development, and operational planning of Commonwealth Games venues.

His next role, as Sports Quality, Infrastructure and Projects Manager, came in 2016, and 14 months later, in 2017, Alan was appointed as Head of Sport for Glasgow Life.

During Alan’s time with Glasgow Life, he has played major roles in the successful growth of Glasgow Club, which helps more people be physically active; in the delivery of major projects such as Scotstoun Leisure Centre, the development of  Tollcross International Swim Centre, Toryglen Regional Football Centre, the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, and the Glasgow International Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

He has been heavily involved in winning and delivering major sporting events, including both Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023 and the European Championships in 2018.

George Hunter, Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity and Communities for Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow has countless reasons to be grateful for the contributions Alan Milner has made to the city over the last 30 years. I can confidently say his achievements in that time have made the city a happier and healthier place. I wish Alan a long and happy retirement”.

Alan Milner, Head of Sport at Glasgow Life, said: “I couldn’t have imagined all those years ago how much Glasgow would realise its own ambitions to grow participation and access to sport and physical activity. I have been part of, and led, wonderful teams who understand the power sport has to change people’s lives, and I am certain Glasgow Life is doing exactly that.”

The recruitment for our new Head of Sport has started. If you are interested in finding out more about the role and the application process, please visit our recruitment partners’ website: Head of Sport job advert