Stacey Freeman would love to be a model professional.

And the Lewes defender is half way there.

Freeman, 25, mixes playing for the Bostik Premier League play-off chasers with a modelling career which includes being a body double for Premier League stars.

He is also starring in the E4 reality show Shipwrecked, with his debut last night on the show as he headed to the islands.

It all sounds pretty glamorous but Freeman has had his knockbacks too in his bid to emulate his dad Darren, the Lewes manager and ex-Albion striker, and become a professional.

The closest he came to securing the contract he wanted was at Crawley Town but that chance hit the rocks.

Freeman revealed: “I had a trial at Crawley two years ago.

“I was due to get a deal but then the manager Mark Yates got sacked and that changed the dynamics of what I was going to be offered.

“I went back in there when Dermot Drummy took over, but I walked away and took the decision to concentrate on Lewes.”

The dream was revived when he had a trial at Stevenage Borough but bad luck struck again.

“I played an in-house game against Southend and I was in the car on the way home and my dad got the call from the head of recruitment,” he said.

“They said they were really interested in signing me but, unfortunately for me, I went on a night out with Lewes and got jumped at a taxi rank and tore three ligaments in an ankle. That was the end of Stevenage.”

Freeman, who also spent two years playing football at university in the USA, admits things have never quite fallen into place.

He said: “I always been on the brink and I do want to get back in the pro game but it is just finding the right club.

“I have had various agents talk to me about clubs, like Aldershot and Forest Green Rovers, but I have always wanted to bypass the National League and get into the pro game and follow my father’s footsteps.

“At the moment it just isn’t quite working. I had another couple of clubs come and watch me last year, but they come and watch and you don’t hear anything.”

The phone continues to ring for the other job, though.

He admits he never had any plans to model but once signed up to an agency he has had success.

Freeman said: “I’ve done some good shoots where I have worn clothes for Under Armour, Nike and Reebok, as well as adidas.

“I have done casting for ASOS and Pro Direct. It’s really enjoyable but you have to stay in good shape all the time.

“I’m also with First Model Management, who are a big fashion brand, and I am actually meeting River Island soon, so things are looking up and things will only get busier.”

One job for an agency was to be a stand-in for a Premier League star.

Freeman revealed: “I was asked to body double for Tottenham player Ben Davies.

“That was up at Enfield a couple of months back for Hotels.com.

“I spent a day with him and a few others, played football all day, had a bit of a laugh and got paid to do it.

“If we’re running through the cones, it is usually the doubles as they are not allowed to participate in the activities just in case they get injured.

“So it would clips of us merged in with them running as well.”

Lewes have recently helped Jonte Smith land a deal with Oxford United.

His performances for the Rooks put him in the spotlight and Freeman sees it as a win-win situation if he can help his dad’s team to success.

He added: “Seeing my dad succeed makes me happy. So it is just taking each game as it comes and trying to push on, for the club but also for my career as well.

“If a pro club come in for me I would definitely be interested.

“My loyalties are definitely with Lewes for now but if a pro club came in I would move.”

Lewes have signed forward Ben Pope, 21, from Burgess Hill. Pope scored against Rooks this season.