Former English rugby player and coach unveiled for 2019 GCA conference

Former English rugby player and coach Sir Clive Woodward OBE has been announced (November, 2018) as the first speaker booked for the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in Luton in January (January 20 until 23, 2019).

Garden centre owners, managers and their teams can now book their places for the conference at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton via www.gca.org.uk and will be able to hear from Clive on Tuesday, January 22.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: "Sir Clive Woodward famously guided England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and three Six Nations tournaments, including an elusive Grand Slam. He has since served as Director of Sport at the British Olympic Association, working in partnership with UK Sport.

"During his presentation, Clive will be speaking about the four attributes needed to create a winning team - talent, teachability, pressure and will. Helpful points, which we believe managers and team leaders can take away with them and use in their garden centres."

Early in his career Clive enjoyed success on the pitch, winning 21 caps as a player and twice touring with the British Lions. He also worked in business, first with Rank Xerox in the UK and Australia. He then became sales director of a leasing company within the Ford Group, before forming his own successful leasing operation.

Clive was universally credited with bringing professionalism, cutting edge techniques and new management skills to English rugby. As he explains in speeches, the squad's achievements were built on back-room expertise, close attention to detail, thorough mental and physical preparation, competitor analysis and ruthless decision-making.

After leaving rugby Clive became Technical Director and Director of Football at Southampton, and a UEFA qualified coach, before joining the British Olympic Association with a mission to integrate coaches and athletes from all sports into Team GB. London 2012 produced the most successful British performance of the modern era, with 65 medals including 29 golds.

Iain added: "Carefully crafted to inspire, motivate and challenge, Clive's presentations blend practical advice with inspiring videos from his career as a businessman, athlete and coach, so it's shaping up to be a momentous conference once again!"

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme, the organisation helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

The GCA's 2019 conference will be held at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border from January 20 until 23 and places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.