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A HAVERHILL beat bobby hopes to lead his fellow officers to glory as the newly-appointed assistant manager of the England Police Football team.

A former professional footballer at Colchester and Southend before joining Suffolk Police at Haverhill, five years ago, Pc Nicky Smith still turns out each week for Braintree in the Ryman League.

Pc Smith, 32, who lives at Braintree, has been playing for the England and Great Britain Police Football teams for the past three years and is England captain.

“The assistant manager stepped down and the manager asked if I would take it on. It is an honour and it is nice to be selected, nice for me and nice for Haverhill. I did have to think about it — for about two seconds,” Pc Smith said.

Next week the midfielder will watch the Metropolitan Police take on Northumbria in the national cup final, to see who are the best players for the squad.

Pc Smith’s immediate goal is to change England’s luck against Scotland in the British championships.

The side lost 1-0 to Germany, knocking them out of the European Championship, and it will be four years before they get another chance.

Pc Smith hopes to take over as manager when the current manager retires in a few years’ time.

He patrols Haverhill Town Centre and has no regrets about joining the force.

“In an ideal world I would like to play football full time, but it got to a point where I thought I am not going to do any better than this and you have to get the best out of life.”

CAPTION: Assistant manager ... PC Nicky Smith