Running a successful electrical business is a full-time job, but two remarkable sporting sparks have proved that they have what it takes to stand out against aggressive competition in totally different fields.
Michael McKenna and Chris Liddell, both members of electrical trade association SELECT, are making the most of the time when they're not working to excel in the tough and challenging worlds of professional football and boxing respectively.
Electrician Chris is getting ready to light up the ring again this week after making his comeback as a professional boxer following eight years out of the ring.
The 29-year-old bantamweight won his first bout on the comeback trail in June and now faces his second fight at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza on Friday 9 September.
Chris, who runs 2 Core Electrics in Lanarkshire, said: "I stopped boxing because I was starting my own business and couldn't commit enough time to it, but things have calmed down a bit since then so I thought I'd give it another go before it's too late.
"Juggling work and training is hard, but I'm a bit more mature now so I know what's involved. It's gruelling but it's worth it – it's been absolutely brilliant to get back out there and I was buzzing to win my first comeback fight."
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Chris, who is managed by Kynoch Boxing Promotions, added: "I don't want to look too far ahead but I'm setting my sights on a Scottish title. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when, so if you're a bantamweight, watch out because I'm coming."
Meanwhile, fellow SELECT member Michael has kicked off a new season with Arbroath FC, hoping to go one better than last season, when he helped them to within a whisker of being the first part-time club to be promoted to Scotland's top league.
The midfielder, from Edinburgh, scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 2021-22, becoming the Championship's top goal scorer and scooping Player of the Year awards from both the Professional Footballers' Association and the SPFL.
Michael – whose day job is running Musselburgh-based McKenna Electrical Solutions – said: "I loved football as a boy but, when I failed to win a contract at 16, I became an electrician. Since then I've worked with some great companies at the same time as playing football and now run my own business.
"I've got three main clients and get involved in all sorts of projects from full house renovations to new builds, kitchens, bathrooms, attic conversions and so on."
Michael – who previously played for Livingston and Berwick Rangers – said: "It's a good balance of work and I'm quite happy with how things are. I enjoy my job and playing part-time for Arbroath and wouldn't endanger that for a few years of full-time football."
Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: "We can only take our hats off to these two sporting heroes who are demonstrating in a very tangible way that there is nothing you can't achieve if you put your mind to it.
"For most people, running a company would be enough of a challenge – especially an electrical business, which is at the forefront of technological development as the country transitions to net zero.
"Michael and Chris are showing exceptional dedication, determination and skill and we wish them every success as they push themselves towards sporting glory."
More details about the sporting sparks can be found in the August-September issue of cabletalk, the magazine which represents the Scottish electrotechnical industry.
