Freddie Woodman’s former goalkeeper coach Mark Levey says he is proud as punch after seeing the youngster become a World Cup winner with England under-20s.

Levey, who is academy goalkeeper coach at Colchester United, worked closely with the talented shot-stopper for a number of years and played a big part in his development over a three-year period during Woodman’s time at Crystal Palace’s academy.

Woodman – the son of former U’s goalkeeper Andy Woodman – proved the penalty hero for England in South Korea, making a crucial penalty second-half save to help them beat Venezuela 1-0 in final, on Sunday.

And after seeing his former player come up trumps, U’s coach Levey said he could not have been happier.

Levey told the Daily Gazette: “I’m really proud - Freddie’s text me since the final and within a minute of the final whistle blowing, Andy Woodman sent me a text thanking me.

“I’m glad that I had an influence and played a part in his development up until the age of 14.

“But I’m one of a number of people who’s played a part in his development and every player in that England under-20 squad will have the same back squad.

“I might have put the foundations in but my close friend Simon Smith at Newcastle has taken that on and done more with Freddie from the age of 14 or 15 for the last four years – he’s helped him develop to the level that he is at now.

“But moments like that are why we all go into coaching in the first place – you’re doing it to be watching a World Cup Final and thinking that you played a little part in that lad’s development.”

Woodman’s terrific penalty save to foil Adalberto Penaranda proved vital in England sealing their biggest international title since 1966.

“The penalty save Freddie made was interesting,” said Levey, who is also Maldon and Tiptree’s assistant manager.

“I always say to my keepers don’t guess and I was screaming just that at the telly, because there will be some that are saveable.

“He went to the right but was still able to get a good strong hand to it.

“I’ve seen Freddie do that before - he saved a penalty out in Malta to help England win the under-17 Championship.”

Levey has revealed he temporarily turned Woodman into an outfield player during his time at Crystal Palace, in a bid to improve his footwork as a goalkeeper.

Levey said: “I had known Andy and Freddie before I coached him at Crystal Palace – he was one of several sons of ex-professionals who had asked me to coach them.

“He couldn’t get a club before Crystal Palace and seven years ago, I sent him away from six months and made him play out on pitch as a midfielder for his club and his school.

“He was quite a tall lad for his age then and quite stiff with his movement and I wanted him to be a bit better with his feet – he came back a lot better for it.

“I then set him a stiff close-season programme of kicking with his left foot.

“He did it and the good thing about Freddie is that if you set him a task of jumping through a hoop 300 times he would probably ask why but then do it – other lads his age wouldn’t have his inner drive.

“Freddie was always single-minded in that respect.

“He wasn't necessarily the best young keeper I had at Crystal Palace but he was definitely the most forward and single-minded with his inner drive and maxing out his ability – as a coach, that is what you ask for.”

Woodman, who is currently at Newcastle United, is rated highly and Levey believes he has the potential to go all the way.

Levey added: “I hope that Freddie can go on and play for the senior England side one day.

“He has that kind of temperament to go on and do well and play in front of big crowds.

“Like the rest of the players in that England under-20 squad, he has to play.

“Freddie went out on loan from Newcastle to Kilmarnock last season and played the last 20 games of the season for them.

“It could be that there will be an opportunity for him to go out for the whole of next season on loan and I think that would really benefit him.

“Freddie was 20 last April and in goalkeeping terms, that’s still very young.”