Express & Star

Cup hero Geddes nets lead role at Rangers

He’s the former Manchester United youth team star who went on to have a career as a specialist in FA Cup giant-killings.

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Now Sean Geddes has taken his first step on the coaching ladder after agreeing to become player-manager at Black Country Rangers.

One-time Walsall midfielder Geddes, who counted Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba among his team-mates at Old Trafford, is best known in the Midlands for helping both Stourbridge and Worcester City make national headlines in the Cup.

Aged just 27, his aim is to now make a name for himself in the dugout, having been tasked with helping Rangers engineer a promotion challenge in next season’s West Midlands League Premier Division.

Geddes, who has just completed his UEFA B coaching licence, explained how he was contacted out of the blue by Rangers chairman Paul Garner.

“He called me up a couple of weeks ago and asked me down for a chat. Things just took off from there,” said Geddes.

“The timing could not have been better really. I completed my UEFA B licence last month, after spending two weeks at St George’s Park.

“It’s been my ambition for quite some time now to get into management.”

Geddes finished last season playing at Quorn in the Midland League Premier, one level above Rangers.

Having left United to sign a professional deal with the Saddlers at the age of 16, he later joined Stourbridge in 2011, playing a key role in the Glassboys’ FA Cup first round win over Plymouth.

Geddes was then part of the Worcester team which stunned Coventry in 2014, while a stunning “rabona” goal in an FA Trophy win over Barrow that same season briefly made him an internet sensation.

An engineer at Smethwick-based A&M Ltd making parts for Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One car, he turned down offers to return to the professional game, before a serious knee injury three years ago prompted him to think more about the future.

“I damaged my ACL pretty badly and it made me realise how much I wanted to stay in football,” Geddes explained.

“I’m still a member of the PFA and they will fund the coaching course.

“It was a really interesting experience. I was paired with Billy Jones, the former Albion full-back. I feel ready to make this step.”

Geddes still speaks regularly to Lingard.

“I’ll always send him a message if he does something good, or bad,” he says. “He offered to sell me a few of his clothes not so long ago.

“I did have to remind him I’m an engineer and it takes me about two weeks to earn what they are worth.”

Despite the many millions his friend might have earned, Geddes has no regrets about how things have panned out since leaving the professional game behind.

A father-of-two, he has recently purchased his first house in Dudley Port.

“We were renting before. Now we’ve got our own place it feels more like home,” he said.

“After the cup run with Worcester and the rabona goal I got quite a few offers to go professional again.

“Coventry were interested, while Leyton Orient wanted to give me an 18-month deal.

“But I’ve got a good solid job and Worcester then offered me a two-year deal to stay with them. I could have gone professional again but if things don’t work out, then what? I have absolutely no regrets.”

Geddes spoke to former Stour boss Gary Hackett before accepting Garner’s offer at Rangers. He held his first training session last week, with 14 players turning up. An assistant boss is set to be appointed.

“I’m not just going into management for something different to do. I want to see how far I can go and I’ve told Paul that,” said Geddes.

“There are a few more players who have been on holiday who should be at the next training session. The aim for the season will be to win promotion.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do but I really cannot wait for the season to start.”