AN EX-SOLICITOR who decided to change his life and start up football coaching has been rewarded with a special ‘Hero’ award.

Rick Law, who runs the Shooting Stars Football Academy, was given the accolade for going the extra mile to “make children smile, inspire them or teach them a skill they’ll have for life”.

The award was presented by Hoop Manchester, an organisation which specialises in connecting children and families with activities across the region.

Mr Law first decided to make a change in 2014, when the former youth team footballer and coach chose to give up his law career and found the academy.

The 31-year-old runs the business alongside his wife Mel Law and offers a coaching for a range of age groups across the northwest of England.

Mrs Law said the prize had come as a surprise to both her and her husband but that they were “delighted” with it.

She added: “It was voted for by the parents of the children we coach so we didn’t even know that we had been nominated, but it’s amazing to win, especially to hear it from them.”

The news follows the couple’s appearance on celebrity businesswoman Karen Brady’s show ‘Give it a Year’, which follows fledgling business ventures and the stories behind them.

Shooting Stars was part of episode three of the show, aired on ITV on Monday, April 30, and detailing Mr Law’s decision to leave his solicitor role and pursue his passion.

Before beginning his legal career, the entrepreneur was heavily involved in football, first playing at the Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers’ schools of excellence and later becoming manager of Bury FC Ladies for around 18 months.

However, after a spell at university and five years in Manchester working as a solicitor, he said he had become “unhappy and disillusioned with corporate life”.

The change finally came when Mr Law was made redundant from the solicitor’s office, which he said finally forced him to break away and pursue his passion.

For more information on the Shooting Stars Football Academy or to sign up for sessions visit: http://www.shootingstarsfootball.co.uk/.