FORMER Eccleshill United boss Lee Duxbury is out of the game he loves for the first time in his adult life but is enjoying a challenging and rewarding role.

The ex-Bantams skipper and Oldham Athletic midfielder, coach and assistant manager left the Eagles at the end of last season. His final game in charge was the Northern Counties League Cup final at Valley Parade, which his side lost on penalties.

Duxbury has swapped the dressing room for the classroom and said: "I'm working at the Holy Family School in Keighley and I'm really enjoying it. I think I'm learning more than the kids!

"I'm mentoring some of the lads who have had difficulties; not with their learning but they are not particularly academic. I'm there to help them get along and to give them some hope and preparation for life after school.

"I get on great with them and they like me because I don't shout at them and I'm not a teacher. But it has taken some adjusting to from my point of view because it's the first time I've not been involved in football since I was their age – or even younger."

Duxbury's contract as a coach with the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) ended last May and it was through Mark Ellis' project that he came to be the Eagles' head coach.

When the contract was not renewed, he had brief spells at Thackley and Barnoldswick Town but decided to take a break from the game for personal reasons.

He admitted he has been surprised by how much satisfaction he is getting from his new job and said: "It's like a breath of fresh air.

"When I retired as a full-time pro, I played for Sinbad (Lee Sinnott) up at Farsley Celtic and I worked like the rest of the semi-pro boys.

"I helped out a couple of lads who were tree surgeons in Steeton. I have got the lads I mentor involved with them as a bit of work experience and I think they are enjoying it.

"The two lads who run the business both left school not able to read and write properly but now they own a successful company and the lads think 'if they can do it, why not us', so it spurs them on.

"I've sorted it all out and we're going to make it a couple of hours every week, which will be good for them; a bit of routine and preparation for later life when they have to earn a living.

"I got all that sorted one afternoon after food tech. We made a calzone pizza. It really is a different world for me these days."