staking their claims to follow in the footsteps of Best, Goater and Lightbourne.

Steve Astwood and Tokia Russell started training with First Division Preston last week and this week North Village defender Marlon Dill and Dandy Town midfielder Raymond Beach, both teenagers, have joined up for training with Second Division Luton Town.

They have been joined at the Bedfordshire club, nicknamed the Hatters, by US-based midfielder Tommy Carter, who performed outstandingly for Bermuda's senior national team and the Olympic team after being `discovered' on a tour of Florida by the under-23 national team last year.

Russell, who scored two goals in a friendly match for a Preston youth team last weekend, has now moved on to Luton as well, increasing the Bermuda contingent at Kenilworth Road to four. Both Russell and Carter will train with Luton's first-teamers and both are due to play in a pre-season friendly next Monday night.

Meanwhile, Dill and Beach, who are accompanied by former West Ham star Clyde Best, will train with the Luton juniors. For them the trip is more to do with their soccer education than a serious attempt to earn a contract.

Former England player Ricky Hill is the Luton manager.

And there could be yet another player heading east across the Atlantic, as arrangements are being made for Rohaan Simons to accompany Astwood at Preston.

Eighteen-year-old Astwood has been asked to stay longer at the Lancashire club, so the coaches can have a closer look at him. His chances to impress have so far been limited by a back strain.

The exodus to England came about through the combined efforts of Mark Trott, Best and London-based sports agent Barry McIntosh.

McIntosh became involved after a call from his friend Best. Trott recommended talented players to the agent and drew up player profiles. And McIntosh used his contacts in English football to find the youngsters clubs.

McIntosh, who runs Premier Sports Limited and concentrates on recruiting talented sportspeople from small countries, said yesterday he hoped the system could continue working for Bermuda.

"The idea is to introduce players to clubs in the UK, not only to show them what is available from Bermuda now, but what could be available in the future,'' said McIntosh.

"We hope to have a feeder situation where players from Bermuda go to English clubs regularly.'' The agent hoped all the Bermudian players he had introduced to clubs would remain in England for at least another month.

Tommy Carter: the Bermuda international is having trials with Second Division Luton Town.