A former Sutton United player and now Roehampton University student has launched a fashion brand which aims to ‘empower’ young people.

Zib Nyatito, of Wellesly Road in Sutton, started Frank Godley in 2015 when he drew inspiration from watching a BBC episode of ‘Our World War’.

He was working as a football agent at the time and secured a transfer for former Chelsea academy midfielder Jacob Mellis from Barnsley to Blackpool, which he says was the biggest transfer of his career.

Mr Nyatito also worked with Cardiff City winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who formerly played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and the England national team.

He said: “I didn’t get the best GCSE results [at Overton Grange High School in Stanley Road] and suffered a bad injury which stopped me from playing football.

“Following my success working with professional footballers, I realised I wanted to set an example for other young adults from ethnic minorities who find opportunities difficult to come by.”

Mr Nyatito played both in defence and attack for Sutton United during both 2010 and 2011 under manager Paul Doswell, before enrolling at Roehampton to study business management and digital media after keeping a promise to his grandfather Solomon Dhlamini.

He added: “When I watched ‘Our World War: The First Day’, Sidney Frank Godley’s story reminded me of my own self-doubt in my abilities.

“I knew straight away that I needed to create a product that would be more than just a clothing line and that is why I developed a brand that gives to charity, generates employment and helps others who might not get an opportunity elsewhere.”

Sidney Frank Godley was a British soldier who received the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry after the First World War in 1919, the Victoria Cross.

Godley was manning a machine gun during the Battle of Mons in Belgium after Lieutenant Maurice Dease was fatally injured.

He defended the Nimy Railway Bridge for two hours before running out of ammunition and it is believed he then dismantled the gun and threw the pieces into the canal, but he was later captured as a prisoner of war by German soldiers.

The final year student said: “We aim to empower people. With us being the youth of today, hiring other people of similar ages or younger than us, I feel like we’re contributing a lot more to the community than just providing a quality product.

“We’re employing 16 young people. They are in employment, not out on the streets doing things they’re not supposed to be doing.”

Frank Godley aims to provide luxury clothing at an affordable price, with a range of bold mesh back panel trucker style caps in colours from scarlet red to sage green.

Mr Nyatito says he employs both current and former Roehampton students.

For more information, visit: www.frankgodley.co.uk