following in the footsteps of another local great Clyde Best.

For the lanky striker, who has performed in the English Third Division for Walsall, has attracted the interest of West Ham coach Frank Lampard, currently on the Island to orchestrate a youth soccer clinic being put on by local club BAA.

Best once played alongside Lampard during the glory years at West Ham as a menacing centre-forward and was one of the first overseas players to make it to the top level in England, a position to which Lightbourne aspires.

The 26-year-old, who possesses a lethal left foot, caught the eye of Lampard when Walsall and West Ham met last season during a League Cup tie won by the Hammers, but only after losing the first leg at Walsall.

"We're trying to buy one or two players in this close season and hopefully next year we can get a better start and not be under pressure,'' said Lampard yesterday.

"Basically we need a couple of strikers, mainly a front man and possibly a wide man, an outside right and Kyle Lightbourne, is over here now... I would like to see what his position is.'' added Lampard, whose side barely avoided relegation to the First Division with a late rush of form.

"I know that he's at Walsall and we played them in the Cup this year home and away and we got through in the end, but it was very close. We got beat at Walsall and we beat them at our home ground and Kyle played very well.

"We're looking around and he's one of the players that comes into the category we're looking at. We need a striker and he's in that category.'' Lightbourne yesterday expressed delight at the suggestion, but added that it would be a matter between the two clubs as he remains under contract to Walsall through the end of next season.

At the moment his main focus is that of his impending marriage to fiancee RoseMarie Darrell which is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon.

"That's up to the clubs -- West Ham and Walsall -- to work out,'' said Lightbourne. "It would be great (to move to West Ham), but they will have to talk first.'' Lampard admitted he was prevented by league regulations from making any official approach to Lightbourne at this time.

GREETINGS -- BAA president David Kneisler (left) welcomes West Ham coach Frank Lampard at the Hamilton Princess Hotel yesterday. Lampard is on the Island as a guest of the Pembroke club and will organise a week long soccer clinic starting today.