Adebola unveiled as ambassador

The 41-year-old former Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, Hull City and Nottingham Forest striker was unveiled on Thursday at the Westhumble Playing Fields as the official ambassador for the Surrey club's academy, pictured.

Since retiring from the professional game after scoring more than 200 goals in over 700 games in the top[ flight and Football League, Adebola has turned his attentions to putting something back into the community via his training company Strike 9 Training, specialists in delivering corporate football tournaments and creating new sources of funds for the nominated charities and foundations of businesses and organisations.

In his new role as their ambassador, Adebola is set to offer regular support to the club's academy team, delivering specialist training sessions to students, along with one-to-one mentoring and tuition.

In buoyant mood after joining the academy’s latest taster session, he said: “In a day and age when football academies are so widespread across the UK, I would only associate both Strike 9 and myself with professionally run establishments that truly put the well-being, development and education of its students first.

"Dorking Wanderers Academy demonstrates this and much more, and I’m delighted to be working with a forward-thinking team that has a track record of being successful both on and off the pitch.”

Dorking Wanderers operations director Kris Lea said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Dele has joined us in the role of academy ambassador. I’m sure that his vast playing experience will prove invaluable to both our students and the academy team.

"As he has demonstrated since retiring, he cares tremendously about grass roots youth development, and as a bi-product of the Crewe Alexandra academy he knows first-hand the role that well-structured academies can play in developing talented young footballers whilst also ensuring that they thrive in the classroom."

Image courtesy of www.dorkingwanderers.com

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