LEE Duxbury has swapped the dug out for the classroom and there is just one question the pupils want to ask the former Eccleshill boss.

All the kids want to know how hard it is to become a professional footballer. It is something Duxbury, who is now working as a mentor at The Holy Family School in Keighley, is well qualified to answer.

After making his mark with Bradford City he went on to play for Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic and Bury before moving into coaching and becoming assistant to Paul Dickov at Oldham before managing Eccleshill.

“I tell them it is extremely difficult because of the competition,” said Duxbury.

“I tell them to look at their own school and count how many of them want to be footballers, then times that by as many schools as there are in the Bradford district.

“You have got youth leagues with dozens of teams and you’ve got amateur clubs with junior sections right up to under 18.

“Then you have the clubs who are on the football pyramid playing at a decent level that all have players being looked at by pro clubs.

“All of them want to play for Bradford City because it’s their club, they have grown up watching their dads supporting Bradford City.

“Out of all of those thousands of young players, in just one school year, City have just one squad.

“From that maybe five or six will be offered deals. Of those who might make it as far as the reserves, only one or two will make it into the first team. It’s difficult.”

Duxbury believes that is why clubs like Eccleshill are so important. They capture a lot of players released at a young age and they can provide a route back into the game.

“Just look at James Hanson,” said Duxbury. “James was released by a couple of clubs when he was younger but look at him now banging goals in for City.

“He came to Eccleshill when he was without a club and he worked hard. James played well and got a move to Guiseley higher up the pyramid before City came in for him.

“The key is that he kept working, kept taking the coaching on board and improving.

“That is what I tell the lads at our school to let them know how hard it is and how much work goes into it.

“It shows just how determined the few that succeed are.”