About Us

Purple Rock was set up in 1997 by Helen Paxton, who still maintains full ownership of the business. Helen is one of these people who you meet who excel at every sport they take seriously. Quite annoying really. Helen was an exceptional athlete competing at District level, played international rugby (only a couple of times because she was playing so much hockey!) in the first ever Scotland vs Ireland fixture,  and turned her hand to a bit of ladies soccer too, as well as being a fully qualified fitness and sports coach. Her main love was and still is hockey. She played at U-21 level for Scotland and still coaches now that injury has ended her career.

Disaster struck when Helen started to have serious knee problems. To cut a long, sore story short, 10 knee operations, 6 on one knee and 4 on the other, with both kness being reconstructed. With several come backs and extra training behind her, the day came when Helen had to give up her main passion - hockey. Constant training and playing full matches at the top flight took its toll and surgeons confirmed that any further damage could now be irrepairable.

So Helen and her wee team really do know everything there is to know about playing, training and competing in sport and that's what makes Purple Rock so special. They know sport inside out, especially hockey. They don't just turn up for work sell as much kit as they can and go home.They make sure every customer gets what they want, because they know that everyone has different needs. They design and manufacture to ensure that the kit is just right - shirts, socks, skirts, shorts, tracksuits, jackets and more, or they have ready made kit across several sports.

So if you want to use a unique company who know all about team kit and can pass on the odd coaching or fitness tip if you really are interested (!), then look no further than Purple Rock. Helen and her team are so passionate about this business, it is a bit sickening, but you just have to look at the hundreds of happy customers to see why.

"I was so gutted when I had to admit that my sporting career was over. But then I realised just what a great business I had and how I could pass on my passion for sport to my customers and that is what I do every day. Purple Rock is my passion." Helen Paxton

BL Jan 2004