WALKING Brian Clough's dog gave Danny Hinshelwood a unique insight into the world of football coaching.

Seven years on, the lessons Hinshelwood learned from the game's most charismatic manager are about to be put to the test.

At 24, Hinshelwood became one of the youngest senior manager's in the country when he took over as player-boss at County League division one strugglers Selsey last week.

But the former Albion defender is hoping the opportunity will give him a launchpad to get back into professional football as a coach, just like his father, Seagulls director of youth Martin Hinshelwood.

Hinshelwood appeared to have the world at his feet when he spent two years at the FA School of Excellence with England's finest young players, including the likes of Tottenham's Sol Campbell and Wimbledon's Ben Thatcher.

He won 12 caps for England under-16s during that time and later won four England youth caps, playing in the European Youth Championships.

On leaving the FA school, Hinshelwood joined Nottingham Forest, winning a league and cup double with the youth side, but he never played for the first team. Subsequent moves took him to Portsmouth, Torquay on loan and Albion, but after a total of 18 League games he dropped out of the professional game last year.

Bognor was his next port of call but, after a spell at Havant, he ended up at his local side, Selsey as manager.

Hinshelwood, who holds an FA coaching badge, said: "When you are 24 you don't expect a coaching job to come along. But Selsey were looking for someone local and I was delighted to take it.

"Anyway I can get back into professional football, I would like to do it. This is is a good opportunity for me and it is up to me to prove that I can do it.

"I have played under Brian Clough, Frank Clark, Terry Fenwick, Brian Horton, plus my dad and my uncle (former Palace defender Paul Hinshelwood) have always been in football.

"You learn little things from everyone. Hopefully the sessions will be enjoyable, that is my main aim."

Although he was only a kid, playing under the great Cloughie was a wonderful experience for Hinshelwood. He said: "My first year there was his last year. But it was brilliant; he loved the kids.

"That year the youth team won the league and cup double. Before his last game in charge, he got us to run round for a lap of honour and he kissed every one of us in the tunnel.

"He was extravagant. A couple of times we would turn up for training, but rather than train we would have to take his dog for a walk.

"His sessions were short, sharp and everyone did it with a smile of their face. That is the way I want it to be."

Hinshelwood's management career got underway with a surprise 2-1 win over Wick last Saturday in the quarter-final of the Sussex RUR Cup.

Tomorrow he comes face to face in the league with a Three Bridges side managed by another former Albion defender, John Crumplin, who is a former Selsey boss.

Crumplin said: "I'm looking forward to going back. I've got a lot of friends there and it will be a good to play on a decent surface."

Hinshelwood is also relishing the task.

"The response of the players has been tremendous. They played better than I thought they would and hopefully it will not be just a one-off."

"Every game is a cup final for Selsey now. We are in the semi-final of one cup and the quarter final of another, but my main aim is to keep us in the division."

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