BEN Pugh is settling into his new role as Workforce Development Manager at Suffolk FA.

The 33-year-old was born in Ipswich and brought up in nearby Shotley, attending Holbrook High School.

He represented Suffolk Schools’ CFA at U14s, U15s and U16s, before doing a national diploma in sports science at West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

He then attended the University of Suffolk, where he did a degree in sports science.

Ben, who had already gained coaching experience with Shotley Rangers and Ransomes, started working voluntarily with Ipswich Town U7s and U8s, then part-time before landing a full-time post.

During that eight-year period he obtained his UEFA A Licence and Advanced Youth Award and was the Lead Youth Development Phase Coach at the club for 13-16-year-olds.

Ben (pictured above) then took a position in the Cayman Islands working with Academy Sports Club, overseeing their while coaching programme from U8s to the Senior teams.

After six months he found himself working with the national side, who were raked 206th out of 210 countries in the FIFA rankings and had not won an international match for nine years.

However, under his guidance the team won four of their next six matches and he led the team during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

After three years away he decided to return to Suffolk and re-joined Ipswich Town, working with the club’s U18s and was again the Lead Youth Development Phase Coach.

He also worked with the Ipswich Town Women’s set up, which he will continue to do.

Ben said: “Although it was a tough decision to leave my full-time post at Ipswich Town, I saw this as an opportunity for my own personal and professional development.

“I look forward to contributing to the fantastic work already taking place at Suffolk FA and know that my coaching experience and more importantly my experience of developing a wide range of people will continue to improve the programme further.”

Ben has replaced Alan Dale, who left at the end of March to take up a position with the England & Wales Cricket Board after working with Suffolk FA for six years.