Chelsea star lands new job with non-league club after missing out on Euro 2024 place

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has been announced as an associate director for non-league club Sholing.

Colwill, 21, has strong family connections to Sholing, who play in the Southern League Premier South - the seventh-tier of English football. This is despite forging his own career as a Premier League footballer.

Barry and Byron Mason - who are the uncles of Colwill - won the FA Vase with Sholing in 2014. During that game, Colwill, who was 11 at the time, was a mascot at Wembley.

After missing out on selection for Euro 2024 with England this summer, Colwill has been down at Sholing this week to discuss projects at the club and join Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier on the board.

Colwill, who has become an associate director, is set to fund some community projects, as well as creating his own foundation. Colwill is aiming to offer children the opportunity to play more football in school. That would include providing free equipment and setting up soccer schools.

Speaking after being handed the opportunity, Colwill said: "It's hugely important to me to put something back into my local club and community and I can’t think of a better vehicle than Sholing FC to do this.

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"The Levi Colwill Project will financially support Project 5000 and we will assist in many other exciting ventures during the season. My family has been a huge support to me in my football career to date and I’m delighted that we will all be on this new journey working together in this new phase of the club.

"Being on the Board and in the role of Community Ambassador with Matt Le Tissier for Project 5000, is also something I was very keen on. I want to play my part in helping the club grow and it’s unbelievable to see the changes that have already happened over the Summer.

"The new stand for 500 supporters, the new Directors stand, parking for over 100 cars, the new marquee for Fan-zones on a match day, free marquee hire for all Project 5000 season ticket holders and the pitch looking the best it’s ever been."

After that, Colwill then took to social media to speak of his excitement about the role and how he can influence the project at Sholing. He tweeted: "So excited to join this amazing club and project. To give back to the community has always been a huge goal of mine and there is no better way. Keep a eye out for what's coming next."

Colwill was integrated into the Chelsea first-team last summer after a productive loan spell at Brighton, where they finished sixth and above the Blues. Mauricio Pochettino used Colwill regularly in the first-half of the season which saw him force his way into Gareth Southgate's England plans.

However, Colwill has been hampered with injuries since January which saw him fail to make a Premier League appearance from March 2 onwards. He was named as an unused substitute in the final four top-flight matches.