10 years ago Stuart Ives was given two weeks to live. A serious illness had left him unable to eat or drink and at just seven stone his doctors and the medical profession were pessimistic about his future.

But Stuart fought back. Using the strength that had seen him gain a contract with Southend United, a few operations and a lot of pills, he turned it around and fought back. Last week he completed a level one FA coaching course with Norfolk FA and will manage Wroxham FC under 11s team into the new season. It’s been long hard road and although he still has his chronic, rare and acute illness which stops him working and could strike at any time football has been his salvation.

Stuart was on Southend United’s books as a youngster and his illness struck as he was making strides to a first team place. Stuart takes up the story “I’ve always played and loved football. Got picked up by Southend and was really progressing and enjoying it. My first professional contract was a dream come true but I got weaker and weaker as my illness took hold. It was undiagnosed for a number of years but essentially problems with my pancreas stopped me eating and drinking and my weight plummeted. Being given only a fortnight to live was a bit of blow to be honest. But things got better. The illness was finally diagnosed and I had a number of lifesaving operations. From there I’ve tried to make the best of a bad situation. I never know when the illness will strike back but I’m pretty disciplined with my diet and medication and although I rattle a lot at times I’m feeling strong at the moment. My wife Angie has been an absolute rock throughout.

Stuart moved to Norfolk a few years back for a better quality of life and although football is in his genes it seemed that with three daughters and one son the baton was not being passed on. “None of my daughters, nor my son Kai were the slightest bit interested in playing football in any meaningful way but for some reason Kai decided to give it a go. We joined the new Wroxham Junior set up and the managers Nigel and Martyn were superb so I just started helping out. It rekindled all of these great feelings and when Nigel and Martyn moved on at the end of the season I stepped up. The club has paid for me to do my level one coaching and although I thought I knew a lot about football I learnt more in those six days than I had in the past thirty years. It was a really great course and I’d recommend it anyone.”

Stuart’s now on the look out for new players for the coming season. “We lost some players after the managers left which is understandable, but we still have a great set of lads who are starting out on their football journey. I’m looking forward to using my experience and my new coaching badge to help them at a great club which wants to do things the right way and has a pathway all the way to semi pro and beyond. “

I f you would like to join Stuart’s team he can be contacted by email on stuart_ives@outlook.comThe under 11s start training on Saturday 10thAugust at 9.30 am at Stracey Park Rackheath in preparation for the new season.