A HORLEY beat bobby is swapping his Dr. Martens for a pair of football boots as he takes off on a dazzling career break.

Police Community Support Officer Andy Bridgman was head-hunted by a scout for the Major League Soccer team in Los Angeles to become a coach with LA Galaxy.

A lifelong football fan and player Andy began coaching his old Crawley-based team, County Oak, six years ago and passed his level two Football Association coaching qualification in November.

At Christmas Andy received a phone call from a coaching scout for the Major League Soccer, the UK's equivalent of the Premier League, the body which looks after America's top ranking teams.

Andy said: "At first I thought it's not real. How many people get this kind of opportunity? Not only to play football full-time but also to work alongside the top teams in America? It's fantastic.

"Everyone knows how much I love football, I even incorporated it into my role as a PCSO by arranging football sessions with kids from the Garden estate, Court Lodge and Langshott areas in order to give them something positive to do.

"I am extremely sad to be leaving Horley. In all honesty I wouldn't have left for anything other than this opportunity. I have made so many good friends in Horley and will miss everyone."

LA Galaxy was famously the team England captain David Beckham joined in 2007 and where he is contracted to play in the summer months.

And said: "David Beckham is arguably one of England's greatest football players and the chance to be coaching him was just too good to miss."

Reigate and Banstead Neighbourhood Inspector Charlotte Rimmer said: "Andy has been a superb PCSO and I am sorry to see him go. He has achieved so much and I know his enthusiasm and dogged determination will be sorely missed. But he is only leaving the Horley team on a 12-month career break and I look forward to him returning once he's increased Beckham's goal scoring tally."

Andy, who was one of the first PCSOs in the country, has been part of the Horley Safer Neighbourhood Team for more than six years and was voted Police Community Support Officer of the year by Jane's Police Review.

He has become a familiar face around Horley, establishing the No Cold Calling Zone on the Riverside Estate, a Pubwatch scheme and Shopwatch.

Andy leaves the Horley Safer Neighbourhood Team on Thursday, March 19.