Rob Morgan’s introduction to CrossFit came just a few years ago, though he laughs now at how unprepared he was for it at the time.
A semi-professional footballer plying his trade in the non-leagues, he had just returned to Stamford AFC after a short spell at Barwell and was training in a regular gym with teammates and friends Ollie Brown-Hill and Ben Fisher. They had both moved across to CrossFit Leicester and kept urging him to give it a try.
He did…and he immediately dismissed it.
“They took me through their own session instead of letting me join the proper class,” he told Fen Regis Trophies. “I thought it was rubbish. Just not for me at all.”
Rob walked away from CrossFit entirely, but continued watching it from a distance. He followed athletes on Instagram, kept a close eye on the sport, and remained quietly intrigued.
It wasn’t until Ollie’s brother, Dom Brown-Hill, encouraged him to try again – properly, this time – that everything shifted. Rob joined in with a class, as opposed to a makeshift session, and the difference was immediate.
“That was it,” he admitted. “I was completely sold…the structure, the coaching, the environment. It changed everything.”
Understanding What CrossFit Really Is
Rob quickly learnt what many newcomers eventually discover: CrossFit isn’t random workouts glued together. It’s built on “constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity”. Real-world movements, repeated often, are measured and retested over time.
“It’s easy for people to say they’ve done CrossFit because they copied a workout online,” Morgan explained. “But unless you’re in an affiliate, with a qualified coach guiding you, you’re not really doing CrossFit.”
Finding His Competitive Edge
By 2019, Rob entered his first CrossFit Open. What began as a bit of healthy competition between him and his best friend turned into something more serious. For the first time, he could see exactly where he ranked not just in his gym, but in the world.
“It’s the fairest playing field you’ll ever get,” said Morgan, who balances his love of CrossFit with playing for Harborough Town. “Same workout, same rules, same standards. It becomes your proving ground.”
That year he reached the Open quarterfinals. After lockdown, he pushed even further, finishing in the top 25 in England and just a handful of places away from the European semifinals. He also competed in Madrid, inside a tennis stadium, shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Europe’s best.
“It was surreal,” said Morgan. “Those moments stay with you.”
Finding Himself
At a crossroads in work and looking for a mental reset, Rob travelled to Bali, something football at the time allowed him to do. There, he trained in one of the island’s busy CrossFit gyms alongside people from all over the world.
It was there, in that unique environment, that two realisations hit him:
- He wanted to coach CrossFit
- He wanted to compete as seriously as he could
“I even wrote it down,” he said. “Get my Level 1 and throw everything at competing.”
Back home, football provided his main income, while CrossFit became his obsession. He trained twice a day, studied the sport, poured over recovery, mobility, nutrition…everything that might help him improve.
It didn’t harm his football. If anything, it made him more powerful, more explosive, and better conditioned.
The Reality of Balancing Football and CrossFit
As Rob pushed deeper into competitive CrossFit, he became aware of the financial reality. Unless you reach the very top of the sport, it costs far more than it gives back.
He recalls competing in Madrid as a highlight, but one that came with a financial sting.
“The trip cost nearly a grand, and I missed a football match,” he recalled. “It was an incredible achievement, but financially I came out worse off.”
To reach the level needed to genuinely challenge for a Games spot, he knew he’d have had to give up football entirely. The reward simply didn’t justify the sacrifice.
Gradually, his focus shifted. Football remained his primary focus; CrossFit became a long-term vocation.
His Proudest Achievement
When asked about his proudest moment in CrossFit, Rob doesn’t point to scores, standings, competitions, or even football trophies.
He talks about his sister.
She wasn’t sporty, never enjoyed the gym, and wasn’t interested in CrossFit when he suggested it. But after watching Rob compete at the European Championships in Essex, particularly seeing the female competitors giving everything on the floor, something clicked.
“She fell in love with it,” Rob said. “She trains more than me now. She’s fitter, healthier, and it’s completely changed her life.”
It remains the achievement he’s most proud of.
The Next Step: Opening His Own Gym
Now, with an eye on securing his future, Rob is shifting his energy more firmly into coaching. He and his partner are already working on their next move.
They’re in the process of opening their own CrossFit affiliate, with location and logistics currently being finalised.
“That’s the goal now,” the powerful central midfielder said. “Create an environment where people can find what I found. Somewhere welcoming, supportive, and full of knowledge.”
He still trains, still dips into competitive workouts, and still has a small voice in his head urging him to make another push. With the Masters category (35+) waiting in the wings, a competitive return later in life isn’t off the table.
For the next few years, the priority is clear: coach, build the gym, and keep playing football for as long as he can.
A Career Built on Passion
Rob never pursued CrossFit for money. He pursued it because it gave him direction, community, purpose and personal growth. It’s shaped who he is now and what he plans to do next.
“I just want to pass on what I’ve learnt and build something that lasts long after my competing days are done.”
By Aaron Gratton
Rob is a breast proud of the kid.