Raring2go! Oldham

13 Raring2go! What age were you when you became interested in Football? I first became interested in football around the age of 6, I remember watching the FA cup final between Liverpool and Everton. I have memories of playing in the garden with my Dad and brother and always wanting to be running around with a football. What got you interested in it? Being taken to my first live football game at the age of around 7 had a huge effect on me! My Dad took us to the Abbey Stadium to watch Cambridge United and it blew my mind! I was in awe of the whole experience. I fell head of heels in love with the game. Did you play in your school team and which position did you play in? I loved playing for my school and local grassroots team, as a young boy I was freakishly fast and always used to play as the striker. Our tactics would be for me to stand up front and my teams to kick the ball over the defenders heads and I would chase after it and kick into the massive goal past the tiny goalkeeper. It was these early successes that gave me the confidence to want to play all the time and continue improving. Which team did you support when you were a kid? Has that changed over time? I was obsessed with Cambridge United from the first time I went to The Abbey Stadium and still to support them to this day! My dream as a child was to score at The Newmarket Road End and I feel very proud, honoured and privileged to say that I lived my dream and did just that! Where local did you play after school? I used to spend countless hours playing football in my back garden as a kid, the second I got home from school I used to grab my Mums football coupon off the fridge and go and pretend to play every game on it from Division 1 to division 4! I'd also play at the park a lot with friends Are your kids interested in Football? Both of my children are involved at professional clubs one at 15 and one at 18, it does scare me a little knowing how cut throat the industry is but I like to think that my wife and I have educated them enough that the most important thing is enjoying the journey. There is certainly nothing as fulfilling a parent seeing their kids doing something they love with a smile on their face. What has been your biggest achievement in your career so far? I've been lucky enough to have had some incredible experiences in my career, none more so than being part of the Manchester United squad that won the league in 2001. What's next for you? At the moment I'm loving life growing our organisation The Football Fun Factory (thefootballfunfactory.co.uk ) which is a children's football coaching company which as the name suggests places a massive emphasis on fun! Our programmes are for children aged between 2 - 12 years, inclusive to all. It is so rewarding being one of a child's first coaches and hopefully being a positive one who can inspire a love for the game! We use football as a vehicle to develop positive life skills like teamwork, communication, sportsmanship and we celebrate these qualities even more than football skills! Focus on football with Luke Chadwick Luke Chadwick began his professional career at Manchester United in 1999 and enjoyed 15 years of top level football. Today as a director of Football Fun Academy , he is responsible for helping to build football communities of the future for boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Read the full interview with Luke at raring2go.co.uk/lukechadwick