Pete (11) steps into the dugout

An 11-year-old with autism is getting a kick out of being the assistant manager at a men’s football team.

Pete Bailey, of Spalding, has been given the job by Peterborough and District Football League Division Two club Spalding Athletic FC.

He visited the Castle Sports Complex based side earlier in the season as part of a group from the Sound of Spitfire radio station which sponsors Athletic.

Pete’s loved it so much he’s kept going to all the club’s home matches.

He’s now even involved in warms-ups and offering tactical advice to Spalding Athletic manager James Langford.

James said: “Pete started coming down as our mascot representing our sponsor Sound of Spitfire and now comes along to every home game to assist with the team.

“He does jobs from the general helping with kit and water bottles to giving me a full brief of what tactics he feels we should be trying with a theme of ‘get the full backs pushing higher to attack’.

“He’s a great young lad and the team really enjoy having him with us.

“At our most recent home match he spent the whole of the second half warming the subs up with headers and running.”

The side, formed from the reserves of Spalding United, have had a difficult start to the season and are still looking for their first win, but James and Pete are looking to turn things around.

Jo Bailey is attending games alongside Pete who attends The Priory School.

Jo said: “Letting him be assistant manager suits Pete down to the ground.

“He’s football mad and loving being with Spalding Athletic.

“They’re all really good with him there.”

Pete is also going to have his head shaved for St Barnabas Hospice on Saturday (November 11) at Barbarettes.

A regular in the St Barnabas cafe and shop in Spalding, he wanted to give something back after thieves twice stole money during break-ins back in August.

You can donate to Pete and St Barnabas by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/spitfire-petes-head-shave