Nottingham Forest Star Turned Policeman Juggles Football and Force Duties
Meet Police Constable Amy Colledge, 23, a top-level footballer who has swapped full-time boots for a badge. Amy, fresh from her passing out ceremony on 25 November 2022, says the teamwork, grit, and fitness she gained at Nottingham Forest have set her up perfectly for life on the beat.
From Pitch to Police Station
Amy hasn’t left football behind. She balances intense police training during the week with playing for Forest on Sundays. “It’s tiring to juggle the police training with football, but I love the challenge,” she told us. “Teamwork is vital in both football and policing. You need each other to solve problems on the job.”
After training, Amy will be based at Broxtowe. She praised her 21-strong cohort for their ‘fantastic’ team spirit.
Fighting Stereotypes On and Off the Pitch
Originally from Cheshire, Amy was a left wing-back for Manchester City and Stoke City before joining Nottingham Forest. She’s also an exercise physiology whizz with a degree and a master’s from Nottingham Trent University.
Amy revealed she’s faced discrimination during her football career but says it made her tougher and more determined. “It has helped with my training and ability to handle conflict,” she said.
Strong Support From Chief Constable
Amy and her fellow recruits graduated from Nottinghamshire Police’s internal training programme, which equips non-graduates with the skills to become frontline officers. The passing out parade was overseen by Chief Constable Craig Guildford, who’s now headed to West Midlands Police.
“Amy is already showing tremendous promise,” Guildford said. “Teamwork and dedication are at the heart of what we do, and she lives those values. It’s been an honour to welcome her and hundreds like her during my time here. A fully staffed police force is what helps fight crime effectively, which is what our communities deserve.”
Amy now aims to don the national police football kit. Watch this space as she tackles crime and football with the same fierce commitment.
