Teen, 17, scores coaching job for semi-pro club

A 17-year-old college student has landed a paid role as the first-team goalkeeping coach for a non-league football team.

Freddy Soden contacted Bowers & Pitsea FC, who play near Basildon in Essex, on social media.

Manager Joe Flower was impressed and said he proved to be "more than capable" and "quite confident".

Soden, from Writtle near Chelmsford, thanked the club for being "forward-thinking" and for not being deterred by his age.

"You've just got to go and grab every opportunity that you can to prove to people that you know what you're doing, despite your age," said Soden.

The teenager started volunteering as a coach for his local club in Writtle for his Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

"I thought 'that's it, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life' and then I gave up [playing] football the following year to focus on that, and it's all kicked on from there."

Alongside his new role, Soden is studying at college, training for his official coaching badges and working at after-school clubs.

He told BBC Essex presenter Jake Peach he adopted a "high energy, but a modern approach" on the field.

"Goalkeeping is a position that, like the sport itself, has changed so much in the last 10-20 years."

The senior men's team at Bowers & Pitsea, a semi-professional outfit, play in the Isthmian League North Division.

As a secondary school teacher, Flower was keen to give Soden a chance.

The side returned to training on Thursday and the 32-year-old enjoyed watching how the teenager simply "cracked on" with it.

"[He] delivered his own session, planned it, got some feedback from the goalkeepers afterwards. They enjoyed it," Flower said.

"He's more than capable to get on with it, and quite confident in what he does."

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