CHRIS LAKEY Well-known local football coach Darren Bloodworth (left) has been appointed as Norwich City's new education officer to oversee the off-field development of the club's Academy youngsters.

CHRIS LAKEY

Well-known local football coach Darren Bloodworth has been appointed as Norwich City's new education officer to oversee the off-field development of the club's Academy youngsters.

Former King's Lynn player and manager takes over the role vacated by Danny Laws, who is leaving to spend more time with his family, in early September.

The 39-year-old will also be involved in coaching the Canaries stars of the future and admits he jumped at the chance to join the Carrow Road set-up and work alongside the likes of Academy boss Ricky Martin and coach Dave Williams.

“I know Ricky from my time working with Cambridge United and Dave Williams actually conducted the coaching course when I earned by UEFA A licence,” said Bloodworth, who has recently obtained his education degree. “I have been working with the youngsters at the College of West Anglia in Lynn and look forward to working with Easton College and the lads at Norwich.”

Bloodworth has been out of the front-line of local footballing management since quitting King's Lynn in September, 2004, and after turning down some offers locally, has found the perfect mix of education and coaching with his new post.

“For me it is the next stage of my development, going into a full-time football job” he said. “I feel all the hard work I put in to get me degree has finally been rewarded.”

A hugely experienced and well-known figure in local football, Bloodworth, born in Market Deeping, was in the youth set up at Peterborough but failed to make the grade. He played for Kettering and Boston before a stint playing for Kui Tan in the Hong Kong First Division in the early 90s, when he also represented the former British territory at international level.

Bloodworth returned to Boston before former England defender John Gidman took him to King's Lynn. He moved on to Fakenham and had a spell as Wisbech manager before leaving to joined Cambridge United's youth development scheme but returned to club management in November 2000 when he teamed up with former Canaries defender Tony Spearing at Lynn.

Another spell looking after the Linnets began in November 2003 when he took on the caretaker's role at The Walks, with Kevin Boon, following the sacking of Peter Morris. It was a role that became permanent in February 2004 when Lynn topped the Dr Martens Eastern Division - a title they went on to win. Bloodworth quit in September, 2004, and in May 2005 spent the summer coaching in the US.