NEW head of youth at Grimsby Town, Robbie Stockdale, says it's a privilege to be handed the role after agreeing a rolling contract this summer.

The 30-year-old defender admits he always wanted to move into coaching at the end of his playing career.

And he believes the chance to work with young talent at Blundell Park was too good an opportunity to pass by.

After a summer reshuffle of manager Neil Woods' coaching staff, Stockdale stepped into the role filled temporarily by Adam Smith last season as the Youth team went on to win the Midlands Floodlit Youth Cup.

And the former Scotland international is loving every minute of his new position.

His side beat Darlington 2-0 on Saturday to record a second successive home triumph in the Youth Alliance North East Conference.

And he leads them into the FA Youth Cup tomorrow at Deeping Rangers.

Stockdale said: "I'm settling into it now and really enjoying it.

"It's always something I've wanted to get into.

"I'm a football man through and through – it's all I've ever known since leaving school.

"I made quite an early decision in my playing career to get on the coaching ladder.

"I took my badges quite young and it always really appealed to me.

"I came to Grimsby with that in mind and last season I worked with the School of Excellence, coaching the Under-12s to get into the right mentality for coaching because it's not something you just step in and out of.

"I had a good look at what Adam was doing with the Youth set up and watched a few games.

"However it wasn't in my mind to go for the job a year ago – I just wanted to get fully fit as a player to help the team.

"At the end of the year, I sat down with the manager and talked about things and he offered me his old job as head of Youth.

"He told me to go away and think about it for a couple of weeks but it didn't really take that long for me.

"I'm 30 now and have had a good career, albeit not spectacular, but good nonetheless.

"My family were settled here and I decided it was the right time to make a career choice and get into something which I love doing and that's coaching.

"I wouldn't have taken the job if it wasn't right for me, regardless of the family because we have moved around before and would have again."

He may be new to coaching but Stockdale feels his experience of playing at the highest level will help him as he makes the transition from playing to management.

And he says the people around him at Blundell Park are perfect to help him with his new role.

The Redcar-born full-back added: "I've heard people comment how I may be too young for the job and should carry on playing.

"But I had an opportunity given to me here at a club where I get on with the people, the staff, the players and the coaches – it just felt right to stay.

"I want to stay in the game because I still have an enthusiasm for it.

"I knew I would always look to stay in it at any role – be it coaching or management.

"I'm certainly learning a lot of things that I didn't know went on behind the scenes.

"I've been in football for 14 years and you do think you know it all but you don't.

"There are so many different things to deal with off the pitch as well.

"I'm learning all the time and in all fairness I have some great people to work with here.

"Neil Woods did my job for a long time and Dave Moore has had jobs at almost every level in a football club.

"There are also people here like Adam Smith and Pete Lea who have made it easier for me to settle in.

"Everyone has been fantastic."