Name: Christopher Birchall.
Position: Midfielder.
Club: Coventry City (England, 04-Aug-2006 to present).
Previous Clubs: Port Vale (England), St Mirren (Scotland, loaned from Coventry City from 31-Aug-2007 to 04-Dec-2008).
DOB: 05-May-1984, Stafford, England.
Schools: Walton Priory Middle School (England), Alleynes High School (England), Staffordshier (England), Ian Challinor Football School (England).
T&T Senior Team Debut: vs Alianza Lima (Peru) on the 18th of May 2005.
NOTE: Another foreign born for the books. A very strong, very quick, runs at defense, good corners, crossing, excellent player, neat close control and a very good shot. Birchall plays on the right wing mostly. He's great going forward than sitting back, he's an attacker - quite useful either wing but he's right footed. Vale is his first club who he joined since a tender age of nine. Chris won the goal of the 2005 season award when he scored a terrific team goal against Barnsley. Had a man of the match performance on his T&T debut against Alianza Lima, a championship club team from Peru. Scored a beauty of a goal in the 2005 Gold Cup against Honduras, the goal eventually won Goal-Of-The-Week on Fox Soccer Channel. Rescued T&T against Bahrian in a world cup qualifier with a blast of a shot, the goal salvaged an all important 1-1 draw. In August 2006 Coventry City signed Chris Birchall from Port Vale on a three-year deal, valued at £325,000. After some impressive display the Sky Blues midfielder went on to be named in the Football League's Team of the Week in November 2006.

  Birchall bound for the game's biggest stage.

By Henry Winter.
25-Nov-2005 - Six months ago, Chris Birchall was hanging out with friends in Stone, Staffordshire, trying to become a regular at League One Port Vale, and now he's eating chicken feet with Dwight Yorke and heading to the World Cup finals with Trinidad & Tobago.
"It's mad!" laughed the Englishman who has become a Caribbean darling after helping the Soca Warriors defeat Bahrain in a play-off for Germany. "People in Hollywood would probably think it was too far-fetched to make into a film! The last World Cup I watched in my local in Stone, supporting England. Now I am going to the World Cup playing for Trini! I was watching Barcelona against Real Madrid the other night, thinking, 'Jesus, we could get drawn against some of these players'." Next summer, the eyes of the world will be on Ronaldinho, Beckham and Birchall.
"If we get drawn against England or Brazil, it would be a dream," continued the engaging Birchall. "The biggest player I have played against was Chris Powell for Charlton Athletic in the League Cup. Some of the best players in the world, like Ryan Giggs, have never played in the World Cup, and I am privileged to be there at 21.
"When loan players come to Vale and hear I play internationally, they can't believe it and say, 'Who do you play for?' 'Trinidad & Tobago.' They start laughing. 'No really, who do you play for?' There's a bit of banter, jokingly calling me the white boy playing in a black team. It's all in good humour." Vale's players are planning to commandeer the team bus and follow Birchall around Germany.
The midfielder himself is getting used to travelling. "My passport's full of stamps now: Costa Rica, Panama, unbelievable experiences. Costa Rica away was the most hostile fans, worse than Bahrain. It's an amazing story. My grandparents emigrated to Trinidad from England to work and my mum was born there. She came back at 18, met my dad in Liverpool, and they moved to Stafford, which is how I got into Vale's School of Excellence. I used to mess around with my mates, saying, 'I could play for Trini', and they'd say: 'Yeah'! "
Scepticism slowly turned into reality. Prompted by his agent, word went around football that Birchall was eligible for the Soca Warriors. On April 26 this year, a game took place at Vale Park that opened up the World Cup for Birchall. "We were playing Wrexham and one of their defenders, Dennis Lawrence, who plays for Trini, came up to me during the game. He's 6ft 7in and I thought he was going to mouth off at me. But he asked: 'Have you got any Trini blood in you?' 'My mum was born there,' I said. He said: 'I need to speak to you after the game'."
Lawrence passed Birchall's number on to the Trini footballing authorities, the Fifa vice-president Jack Warner helped cut the red tape and Birchall was invited to a training camp for the two World Cup games against Panama and Mexico. "A few fans and Vale players were coming up and saying, 'Why are you going over, you are not going to qualify for the World Cup'. No one thought we had a chance. We were bottom of the group. But I wanted the experience of playing with Dwight, Shaka Hislop and Stern John."
His father, Phil, voiced brief concerns that an English-born player representing Trini "will get some stick somewhere down the line", but these were swamped under waves of joy from mother Jenny. "Mum was the proudest person alive that I was representing her country. She thought the Trinidad chapter in her life had been shut. It's emotional for her."
Particularly when Jenny sat in the Port-of-Spain crowd as her son screamed one into the top corner in the home leg of the Bahrain play-off. "My mum loved going back," Birchall said, "she didn't really want to come home again.
"She told me how friendly the people would be and they are. A lad at our club, George Abbey, who plays for Nigeria, said, 'Maybe you wouldn't have been accepted so easily if it was a country like Nigeria who are a bit more hostile'.
"But in Trinidad, there are loads of different cultures, whites, Chinese. For them, it is not a big deal, because there are a lot of white people over there, but the whites don't get involved with the football. I am the first white to play for Trini in 60 years. I was getting a bit of stick for not singing the national anthem for the first few games. So I got someone to write it down, and learnt it. It is about the island. It's nice."
Yorke has taken Birchall under his wing. "I have been to the local nightclubs and met a lot of the local people. I have been around a bit of the island; everyone is wearing Liverpool or Man United tops but I've not seen any Port Vale ones!" He has even been sampled local delicacies, such as chicken-feet soup. "You do eat the feet, but spit out the bones. I have had it once. I don't think I would have it again." For a man who admitted his musical tastes six months ago were Phil Collins, Birchall is now into Destra's It's Carnival. He smiled: "They are always playing Soca, which is their local music - steel drums, upbeat music. We have it in the dressing-room and it gets everyone up for the game.
"In the dressing-room in Bahrain, Russell Latapy and Dwight were crying with delight. Dwight and Russell are so old, they knew it was their last chance. Dwight has achieved everything now, apart from winning the World Cup, which I don't think he is going to do, but...
"Dwight is really friendly with me. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had been all big-time when I arrived. But he's a good captain. Him and [Brian] Lara are the two legends on the island, worldwide too." As a Liverpool fan, Birchall has wound up the former United striker. "I do! I was in the Kop when he scored a header off Beckham's cross. Dwight just laughs about it.
"He's playing up front in Sydney now, but for Trinidad, the coach, Leo Beenhakker, wants him in central midfield, because his pace has gone a bit but he still has the skill to get out of trouble and pick passes out. Dwight has played at the highest level, won the Champions League, so for me to be playing alongside him is unbelievable.
"Without this experience, I wouldn't get the notice that might get me a move to the Premiership. I'm 21, having a good season with Port Vale and going to the World Cup. There are about four or five teams who have never been there before, like Angola, Ivory Coast, Trinidad and Togo. I wouldn't be surprised if one of us did well. We'll struggle to get there again because the best players are retiring after this World Cup. So I'm going to seize the moment."

Bratt proud of Birchall.

Teamtalk.
17-Nov-2005 - Port Vale chairman Bill Bratt has hailed Chris Birchall after he helped inspire Trinidad & Tobago to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals.
The 21-year-old midfielder will become the first Vale player to appear in the World Cup finals after the Soca Warriors won the second leg of their play-off in Bahrain.
Birchall only lasted 20 minutes of the 1-0 win - secured courtesy of Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence's header - before he was forced off with an ankle injury.
But he had already played a major part in the Caribbean country's qualification, including scoring their goal in the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Trinidad last Saturday.
And Bratt beamed: "Chris is a brilliant lad and everyone at Port Vale is extremely proud of him. It's a massive achievement and he's the first homegrown Vale player to play in a World Cup finals.
"Chris' achievements with Trinidad & Tobago have raised the profile of the club and undoubtedly made him a better and more confident player - long may it continue."

Birchall thrilled to help keep T&T alive.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
13-Nov-2005 - English-born midfielder Chris Birchall was thrilled to get his second international goal for Trinidad and Tobago but was not pleased to have only come away with a 1-1 draw with Bahrain in Saturday’s 2006 World Cup qualifying half slot playoff at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Port Vale man kept T&T in the game with an absolute stunner in the second half as the “Warriors” drew level to go into the second leg on Wednesday with a good enough chance of booking their place in Germany.
“I’m delighted to get my second goal for Trinidad and Tobago and especially the first one at home in front of the packed stadium. But it was a bit of a sour note that we conceded the away goal. Our aim going into the match was to make sure and not concede any goals but at least we’re still in it right now. Now we have to go to Bahrain and we know what’s got to be done,” Birchall said after the match.
The 21-year-old 2005 T&T debutant mentioned that he had been joking around with goalie and roommate Kelvin Jack earlier on Saturday that he would net one on the day.
“Strangely I was actually joking around with Jack and saying that I was going to score one and luckily it happened. But personally I didn’t think I played that well. I think I can play a lot better than I did in this game and that was disappointing but hopefully we can all get it right on Wednesday,” Birchall added.

Chris Birchall happy to be fit.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
02-Nov-2005 - Midfielder Chris Birchall says everytime he returns to his club after representing T&T, he tries to stay fit; praying that he remains injury free in order to have the chance of wearing the red, white and black national colours.
Birchall has been dubbed a real fighter in the Warriors’ outfit and this has been exemplified, as it has been by the rest of his team-mates, in recent wins over Panama and Mexico.
Now it’s Bahrain’s time to feel the hurt.
“I’ll always have it at the back of my mind when I go back to England that the last thing I want is to get injured for the matches for T&T.
“But at the same time, I’m always trying to do the best that I can for whichever team I’m playing for.
“Right now, it’s just about looking forward to the massive game against Bahrain.”
Birchall also spoke of having his parents, Jennifer and Phil, in T&T to witness him play for the first time in international football.
“I don’t think any of us will ever forget that, especially my mom, coming back to her home country and being able to witness the last win before the home fans. God knows where we can end up now,” he said. Birchall played the full match in Port Vale’s 2-1 loss to Hartlepool last Saturday.

Chris Birchall’s mom here for match.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
12-Oct-2005 - As promised by TTFF special advisor Jack Warner back in May when Chris Birchall made his debut for T&T against Peruvian club Alianza Lima, Jennifer, mother of the Port Vale star, along with his father will see their son in action against Mexico today.
Birchall’s parents arrived on Saturday for a one-week stay and are thrilled to get the chance to see him play for T&T in such a crucial World Cup qualifier.
“It’s just such an amazing feeling to have them here for such a massive game,” Birchall said. “It seems that they are even more excited than I am, but it does mean a lot to me to have them here. “They are definitely backing us all the way and for them, just like me, it’s like a dream come true,” Birchall said.

Q&A with Christopher Birchall.

Conducted by: Shaun Fuentes. (09-Jul-2005)

1. What’s your most memorable moment or match, whether for country or Club?
Getting voted young player of the year at Port Vale after having a good season. And for T&T the goal against Honduras. It was a dream come true moment. I’m really glad to get a goal in my international career.

2. Name two persons, whether relative or not who have been an inspiration to you.
Me Dad. I followed him when he was younger because he used to be into a lot of sports. He helped with football right through. Was always there to drive wherever I needed to go and play with me when I was younger. My whole family really has been supportive. My brother Simon who plays for a pub team has always been there playing with me all the time. Maybe if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today because we always used to be knocking it around.

3. Any favourite player or team?
Liverpool. I think my favourite player would have to be Ian Rush because I was also a striker so I used to look at him. I was a striker up to age 13 and then got adapted to midfield when a coach at Port Vale, Jeff Aston wanted to be a winger on the right. It’s always been right. I still prefer playing right wing even though I’m doing okay in the middle for Trinidad.
 
4. What would be your preferred other profession.
Something to do with football whether it be coaching young kids or management or even being a physiotherapist.

5. What do you hope to accomplish either in next 5 years or end of playing career.
To play at the highest standard possible in the English League, hopefully play in the English Premiership and live a good life. I want to help T&T qualify for the World Cup and to be a regular in the team.
 
6. Who’s been among your most admired coaches and why?
Leo Beenhakker because he’s the most experienced and he’s got great respect all over the world and for the chance he has given me at this stage of my career. At club level since I was nine at Port Vale there’s been so many. And then there’s the guy who introduced me to the game, Ian Challinor – a former Stoke City coach,  while I was at school at Walton Priory Middle School. I joined the The Ian Challinor’s Soccer School. I would train there every Saturday from the age of seven until I was spotted at age nine and taken up by Port Vale. I still went to the soccer school until 13. At Port Vale, we would train on a Wednesday and Friday night from nine until 12 which is when we started playing matches on a Sunday afternoon. Then at 16 when you finish school, you signed the scholarship forms, which is a youth team contract. From then on you train  every day from 9 until 2pm. You don’t play at the main stadium until you’re in the first team but I was fortunate to play for the Port Vale first team which was in Division Two at age 16 away to Charlton Athletic in 2000. Then I made my home debut next season against Plymouth Argyle. We lost 5-1 at home and I started the game.  I played only a few games though under Brian Horton. Tony Rougier was there at the time. But it was frustrating times for me because I felt I could have been in the first team more regular but I was only being used for the Youth team and Reserves It was really a time to be patient and wait for my chance and it only came last season under the new manager. I played 35 games for the season.  Now there’s been  a few clubs interested if I wasn’t going to sign on at Port Vale. I signed one year after the youth contract ended and then last season I signed a two-year extension. Among the clubs interested were Rotherham, Oldham Athletic, Barnsley, Macclesfield and Tranmere Rovers. I decided on Port Vale because at this time in my career I felt I needed a couple seasons at Port Vale to establish myself as a regular player and to improve my game because I still need to work on a few things. Plus I grew up at the club having been there at nine. Defensively I need to be a bit stronger. The whole package really needs to get a bit better. And right now the experience with Trinidad is also helping a lot. I think I have improved since playing for them.

7. What do you think of T&T’s chances of making it to the 2006 World Cup.
From speaking to the lads, everyone thinks we can qualify. Since the new coach has taken over, everyone has seen the performances improve and we all know about the games coming up. I think we have a great chance of getting the results to take us to third spot.
 
8. Any instances or plays that you always reflect on?
Everything has gone better than I expected really. I started and enjoyed my first full season for Port Vale and then to get the international call up. It was shocker for me. I never expected anyone in Trinidad to even know me and then to invite me to the camp. I always thought about playing for Trinidad  since I knew my mom was born in  Trinidad. It was in the back of my mind but I never thought it would become a reality. Obviously the one player everyone knows about from Trinidad is Dwight, even though if you don’t know anything about the country, you still know that he’s been from there and at that time the thought used to cross my mind. I thought it would always be amazing and I started learning more about the country and the players obviously because of me mum. When we played Wrexham at home, Dennis Lawrence came up to me on the pitch and asked me if I have got any Trini blood in me and I said ‘Well yeah, me mum is from there’ and he just said he needed to speak to me after the game.” Then I gave him my mobile number after the game and he said to expect a phone call from Mike Berry and then later that evening Mike rang me and said that Jack Warner had noticed my goal against Barnsley and that got voted “Goal of the season” for the club by the fans. Mike said that Mr Warner and Leo Beenhakker wanted to know if I would be interested in attending the camp before the Panama game so that they could have a look at me. I said I would have to discuss the matter with my parents and then the next day I rang Mike back and said I would love to join the camp and train with the rest of the lads. Three days later after I flew over with Clayton, went to the Alianza Lima game and then checked in at the Crowne Plaza. It was then time for the camp to start. Ever since I got the phone call it’s just been a great journey, going better than I expected and I just hope that this journey climaxes in Germany.
 
9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received.
From my Dad ever since I was a kid he knew I wanted to be a footballer and he’s never doubted me.
 
10. What do you do to relax away from the game.
Relax with my girlfriend, Clare who I recently met (She’s English). I also love to play other sports like lawn tennis and table tennis with my family.
 
11. What’s your favorite dish?
Chicken Koima Balti.

12. Favourite drink?
Vimtoe – a soft drink.

13. How do you feel now as a Trinidadian playing in the UK League?
I feel like I have got a lot more confidence and I have more in my own ability. I know I must be doing something good and there’s also more respect from other people. I have been doing the same things back in England though. The hardest thing for me which may not be for other players is adapting to the weather in Trinidad.

14. What’s been the high and low points in the past six months?
The low point was Port Vale having a disappointing season. We should have been competing for the playoff places where at the end of season we were fighting to stay in the Division. High point speaks for itself really. The Trinidad call up, getting goal of the season and then being named young player of the year all at the age of 20 and I’ve just turned 21.
 
15. Favourite type of music?
Old songs like some Phil Collins, R&B and hip hop and Pop. Oh yea and I love Soca now. Machel Montano and Drestra’s “It’s Carnival”, Great song that.

16. Favorite time of year?
Christmas.

17. Most comfortable football boot?
The new Umbro. I’m wearing those now.

18. Name one thing about yourself you would change if given the chance?
Even if it meant going back in time.  I don’t think there’s anything to change mate. It’s gone well so far in my life and I’ll just like to keep it up. There will be challenges but hopefully I can be good enough to deal with them

19. Preferred Wear.
Casual – just a jeans, t-shirt and trainers.

20. Any advice for others aspiring to make something of themselves?
If you decide you want to go at something and make something of yourself in life, just go for it and don’t go up because things have happened in my life that I never expected like the Trinidad call up.

Dream goal & then bomb scare for Birchall & ‘Warriors’

By: Shaun Fuentes.
07-Jul-2005 - Midfielder Chris Birchall described his first goal for Trinidad and Tobago as a “dream come true” moment following the exciting 1-1 draw with Honduras in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup opener at the Orange Bowl Stadium, Miami on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old Port Vale player was however a concerned chap on Thursday morning before the team left the Inter-Continental Hotel for training as the news of the London terrorist attacks reached the T&T camp.
Birchall, who hails from Strafford and has a Liverpool-born father along with T&T’s other UK-based pros were glued to their televisions and on their mobile phones and contact was made with family and friends in and around the areas that were under attack.
New Luton Town signee Carlos Edwards was on the exercise bicycle in the hotel gym when he happened to glance at the television before running off to his room on the seventh floor to ensure his wife Theressa was safe. She is currently staying with his cousin a few miles from the Edgware Road Underground Station where one of the explosions took place. Edwards also took up a new address in London last month following his move to Luton Town.
Though concerned, head coach Leo Beenhakker still managed to conduct a 90-minute training session at the Barry University Ground as the start team against Honduras were given an easier time while the others went through their usual drills with assistant coaches Wim Rhisbergen and Theo De Jong.
“It was a shocker for all of us when we got the news this morning,” Birchall told TTFF Media. “Fortunately for me, I live a pretty okay distance from where the attacks took place but I have been contact with my family over the phone and they’re in good hands. But it must me a terrible feeling for a lot of people back home now.”
Birchall was still however reminiscing in his wonder strike from 25 yards out which put T&T ahead 1-0 the previous evening and won him the Miller Lite “Player of the Game” award.
“We didn’t play the best last night but for me personally to get my first goal out of the way for Trinidad and Tobago and the way I scored it was a nice feeling. It came from the right and then Jason got inside and just put me in and the way he set the ball it was perfect for me to kill it into the top corner,” Birchall commented.
“It’s just a dream really, even to just come into the squad and then to score a goal like that in my fifth start for the team is unbelievable.”
“There was a bit of a disagreement with the gaffer at Port Vale because he didn’t want me to come over for the tournament but once I made my mind up, he said to go out and play my game and do what I had been doing for Port Vale all season. He’ll be pleased to know that I have scored and my confidence will be high playing for Trinidad again and then going back to England.”

Chris Birchall steps to Gold Cup call.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
27-Jun-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago’s latest English recruit Chris Birchall arrived in Ft Lauderdale on Monday evening to join the rest of the National team in preparations for the coming CONCACAF Gold Cup eager to put on a good show in an international competition while his club teammates were getting set for preseason training in England.
The 21-year-old Birchall took up the invitation from head coach Leo Beenhakker  to join the team for the Gold Cup despite pleads from Port Vale manager Martin Foyle for him to sit it out in order to be fully energized for Vale in the upcoming season.
Foyle was earlier eager for Birchall to make his international debut leading up to the 2-0 win over Panama but is apparently not as pleased over his schedule with the “Warriors.”
“Chris has made his decision and decided to go, so there is no point getting angry about it. I hope he learns from the experience and can rest at the right time. I also hope they get knocked out of the Gold Cup early so he can come back,” Foyle said in the Sentinel newspaper on Monday.
Birchall however wasn’t the least fazed by the remarks from Foyle.
“It’s great to be back here with the boys because it’s like coming to a family again since I haven’t seen them since the game in Mexico. Coming out here is also a good experience for me because it’s the first time I’ll be playing out here in America and especially being involved in the Gold Cup is a big occasion for me,” Birchall told TTFF Media.

Port Vale worried over midfielder Chris Birchall.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
15-Jun-2005 - Port Vale manager Martin Foyle is expressing fears over the fitness of midfielder Chris Birchall when the time comes for him to represent Port Vale at the start of the new English season in August.
Following Birchall’s recent impact with the T&T National team, Foyle said he was happy to see the youngster making a name for himself in the “Warriors” strip but feels he needs to look closely at his physical state with the Concacaf Gold Cup coming up early next month.
“Chris has done well for them, although he is absolutely shattered.
“When he comes back we will sit down and discuss what is best for him.
“He still has a lot to learn in his game, but he has done well playing 28 games in his first year. After that he probably needed a rest, so this has probably done him no favours, but I am delighted for Chris,” Foyle said on Friday. Vale open their season on August 6, less than two weeks before T&T’s crucial World Cup qualifier away to United States on August 17.
Birchall is hoping to keep his momentum up. “It was devastating for us not to have come away with at least a point in Mexico after we played so well. “It’s been a helluva two weeks for me with these two World Cup games and hopefully I can only get better with the team and we should be up for the match against American,” he said.

Classy display gives Birchall confidence over Trinidad future.

By: Chris Harper (The Sentinel).
06-June-2005 - Port Vale winger Chris Birchall expects to keep his place in the Trinidad and Tobago side after starring in their World Cup win against Panama. Coventry's Stern John and defender Dennis Lawrence, of Wrexham, scored in the 2-0 victory in Port of Spain, but Birchall played a key role in the centre of midfield.
In a text message to his parents in Stafford, Birchall said: "We were class and I really played well again. The place has gone crazy."
A crowd of 18,000 roared T&T to victory and Birchall, the first white footballer to play in the side for 60 years, earned praise for his performance on the local radio phone in.
His father Phil, who listened to the broadcast via the internet, said: "Chris and Carlos Edwards, of Luton Town, controlled the game in midfield and it was nice to here people boosting them up instead of saying they were out of their depth. We are very proud of Chris."
Next stop for 21-year-old Birchall and the T&T squad is Mexico for another World Cup qualifier on Wednesday before they fly to London for a four-team tournament at Upton Park involving Ghana, Jamaica and Nigeria, whose squad could include Birchall's Vale team-mate George Abbey.
Phil Birchall said: "The Mexico game is the hardest in the group because they are very difficult to beat at home, but if Trinidad and Tobago can get some sort of result they will be on their way, with the finals in Germany in mind next year."
Birchall could be missing from Vale in pre-season as T&T will be involved in the Gold Cup tournament in Miami and also play USA in the World Cup on August 17.
The Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago, as they are known, are grouped with Mexico, USA, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala and play their rivals home and away. Birchall, who has had a meteoric rise from Port Vale sub early last season to the World Cup stage, has qualified through his mother, Jenny, who was born on the Caribbean Island, but left in 1975.

‘Warriors” and their dream.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
23-May-2005 - English-born midfielder Chris Birchall is expected back in the country today (Monday) to resume training with the National Team and is set to receive his Trinidad and Tobago passport over the next 48 hours which will allow him to represent the “Warriors” in a FIFA World Cup qualifying  match.
This was revealed by Jack Warner, Special Advisor to the T&T Football Federation at a breakfast meeting hosted by the TTFF at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence on Sunday morning.
A host of persons from within the football fraternity, sponsors, media personnel, members of the National Team and other friends of football were present when Warner presented Birchall’s mother Jennifer with her renewed T&T passport which was obtained over the past few days to allow the Port Vale player to receive the necessary documents to be eligible for the June 4 World Cup Qualifier against Panama on June 4. The occasion was arranged to allow an opportunity for mingling among Beenhakker, the players and close followers and supporters of the team. A video presentation with Abba’s “I believe in Angels” playing in the background had all eyes glued to the screens as clippings of the team in action and reactions of fans were highlighted.
“Of all the documents we have had to get for other players, this was the hardest to obtain,” Warner told TTFF Media. “But in the end we are grateful for having received it and we expect that Chris will receive his passport early this week. This meeting of the football family this morning was an opportunity for everyone to be able to identify with the Journey. We all have a dream as ‘Warriors’ and fittingly the song was about believing in Angels and realizing that dream.”
Birchall’s mother said that her son became aware of a possible chance of playing for T&T this year and she felt it was not an opportunity he could turn down.
“When we got word of this, I said to him that it would be a wonderful opportunity that he could not afford to turn down. To me it was special and I think he knows how much it means to me and now he’s experiencing something that may not have crossed his mind up to recent times,” she said. “It’s been close to 40 years since I have been back and I couldn’t have wanted a better reason to be here again.”
She grew up in Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain and will hopefully return sometime later in the campaign to see Chris in action for T&T. Warner has already promised to have her as guest again in T&T’s final qualifying match against Mexico in October.

Chris Birchall gets first one out of the way.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
19-May-2005 - Debutant Trinidad and Tobago player Chris Birchall says he’s adjusting to the conditions in the Carribbean and after taking the field for 90 minutes in Wednesday’s warm-up affair with Alianza Lima at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, he’s getting closer to becoming a True ‘Trini’.
The 20-year-old player gave a heartening performance in his first game in the T&T strip and would have left a smile on the face of his mother Jennifer who flew down to see the game and assist in sorting out his T&T passport among other transactions. The Port Vale player said he was anxious to get his debut game out of the way.
“I felt great being out there today. The lads have been good with me and it was just nice to get my first game out of the way,” Birchall said after the match.
“The result was disappointing but we played some good football in the first half which is encouraging. There’s a are still a lot of things that we have to work on and I we have the time together to sort it out. We know how important the game is on the 4th of June, we’ve got to win that.”
When asked how he has adapted to the weather conditions here, Birchall did admit he was drinking lots of water on his first two days in training but not before Beenhakker could jokingly add “He loves it… he loves it.”
“For the first training session I was tired even though it wasn’t hot but just because of all the humidity. But as the sessions have gone on morning and evening , every session has gotten a bit easier and tonight I felt more comfortable and as time goes on I’m feeling more at home.”
Reflecting on his decision to play for T&T, Birchall said: “It was an easy decision to make. I had a good season with Port Vale and I had a phone call saying I was invited to the Trinidad and Tobago team and there was no question what the answer was going to be. It’s an opportunity for me to play with some great players like Dwight and Clayton and a top class team of coaches and it can only help me in my career as well.”
Team skipper Yorke also shared his thoughts on the debutant by saying “There were some new players in, if you look at Chris, he was phenomenal tonight and that is encouraging from our point of view and I’m sure from the management point of view as well.”

Chris Birchall ready for T&T football trial.

By: Lasana Liburd.
10-May-2005 - Chris Birchall, a midfielder with English club Port Vale, arrives in Trinidad tonight to try out for the national football team. Birchall's mother was born in Trinidad.
Twenty-year-old Port Vale midfielder Chris Birchall's heart skipped a beat when he saw the six foot seven frame of Wrexham and Trinidad and Tobago defender Dennis Lawrence striding towards him during a League One fixture on April 26.
Lawrence was not hunting for a brawl, which was just well as his opening question stunned the young Englishman.
"He just came up to me and asked if I had any Trini blood," said Birchall. "I told him 'yeah, me mum'. Then he said that he would need to speak to me after the game. And he was gone."
Wrexham beat Port Vale 2-0 on that night but his subsequent conversation with the lanky defender-although Birchall confessed that he strained to understand Lawrence's accent-might change his life.
Three weeks later, Birchall is off to Trinidad with the intention of representing his mother's homeland in the ongoing 2006 World Cup qualifying series.
The five-foot-nine right side midfielder, who was described as a "pocket-battleship" by his club, is one of 23 foreign-based players selected by new national coach, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker.
However, Birchall is the only one who has never seen chicken foot souse and would not know the appropriate answer if someone asked "wha vibes?"
When he steps off the plane tonight, it would be his first visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
"I heard a little about Trinidad from my mom when I was growing up," he said. "She would always say that life was completely different there and people were more friendly and more relaxed. That is all I know and I have been told that they love their football."
Birchall's mother, Jennifer Birchall (formerly Gilston), lived at Queen's Park West before migrating at the age of 18 to England, where she met her future husband, Phillip Birchall, at her new hometown in Liverpool.
His father Phillip works for Cable and Wireless, while Jennifer is a receptionist at a recruiting agency.
Birchall grew up mesmerised by the skills of Liverpool legend and Jamaican-born England international, John Barnes.
The combative midfielder, who made 37 appearances for Port Vale this season and scored six times, never thought that he might make the opposite journey to his hero.
"I never thought about international football to be honest," said Birchall. "I was just concentrating on being a regular for Port Vale as this was my first full season. But I am really excited about the chance of playing international football."
FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) special advisor Jack Warner discovered the player initially and asked agent Mike Berry to track him down, a job that was sub-contracted to Lawrence.
After a discussion with his parents, Birchall accepted the challenge.
"My father is English and I think he half-expected me to push to get an England call-up," he said. "But my mom said how much it would mean to her if I played for Trinidad.
"So, after a long discussion, my dad basically said that if that is what I wanted to do and where my heart is then he would support me 100 per cent.
"I just want to thank Jack Warner for arranging everything. I am very proud for the chance and can't wait to play for the country that my mom was born in, if I am selected."
His trip to Port of Spain is a step in the right direction but the list of overseas-born players who failed to settle in the Trinidad and Tobago squad is a long one-not counting Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who grew up in Trinidad.
Over the past decade, Englishmen like Bristol Rovers midfielder Ronnie Mauge, Gillingham defender Ian Cox, Peterborough midfielder Andre Boucaud, Watford striker Jason Norville and Brentford defender Kevin Austin and Canadian-based Rick Titus all wore the red, white and black strip without leaving a lasting impression.
Mauge was the only of those players to get on the score sheet as he managed one goal from six caps. He was a part of the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad that qualified for the semi-final stage for the first time, although he broke his leg during the group stage.
Cox made ten appearances but they were spread out over five years. He was also included in Beenhakker's list of foreign possibilities.
Boucaud won three full caps and as many off the substitutes' bench, while A' League defender, Titus, got two outings and Norville and Austin made one each.

‘Warriors’ trialist wins top award.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
03-May-2005 - Young English-born trialist Chris Birchall was on Monday named as Port Vale’s “Young Player of the Year” in what was a timely accolade for the promising midfielder ahead of his entry into the National Team for training later this month.
Additionally, Birchall’s whose mother is Trinidad-born, was offered a new contract with the English League One club and is expected to play an integral role in the club’s ambitions next season.
Port Vale manager Martin Foyle credited the 20-year-old for his continued signs of development this season.
“Chris has a super attitude and has shown a lot of promise. He only played one game last season, but has come into his own when he had his chance. Hopefully he can carry things on next year,” Foyle said.
Birchall has appeared 36 times for Vale this season scoring six goals in the process.
Looking ahead to first stint under new coach Leo Beenhakker, Birchall was enthusiastic but say he would not get carried away by the call.
“It’s a great thing to have received the invitation and obviously I want to put my best foot forward with the rest of the boys from Trinidad and hopefully become a part of the team,” Birchall told TTFF Media. “It’s going to be an important time for the team with the games coming up and I will try my best to fit into things and make a valuable contribution.”
Birchall is expected here on next Tuesday along with Crewe Alexandra goalie Clayton Ince.
Former England international John Barnes commented on the growing number of T&T Nationals playing their trade in England, saying that he felt it was an obvious plus to the National Team.
“They are  in different parts of England and I don’t know all of them personally but they have done well for themselves. I know Dwight because I see him socially and Russell as well. But I do watch the rest of them, particularly Kenwyne Jones and it’s important for them to make progress. Playing in England is vital for them to get the exposure at a higher level. As much as people tend to criticize when these players come back into the team from the foreign leagues, I think there’s no point arguing that because most times they are coming back from a higher standard. They will definitely improve from a professional and individual perspective and technically also without a doubt. Once they come back with the right attitude and application to play for Trinidad then it’s all good. They must not come back and think they’re just better than the rest and can walk into the team,” Barnes said.

New English-boy to try out with Beenhakker’s ‘Warriors’

By: Shaun Fuentes.
27-Apr-2005 - Yet another English-based  player could be lining up for this country’s senior national team in the near future. Promising 20-year-old English-born midfielder Christopher Birchall of English League One club Port Vale has accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to join the team in training in order for head coach Leo Beenhakker to have a look at him.
The locating of  the 20-year-old Birchall was prompted by Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF before English agent Mike Berry got in contact with Birchall this week to finalize arrangements for him to join the team.
The 5' 9" Birchall is currently negotiating a new contract with Port Vale, the club he has been attached to since age nine.
“A pocket-battleship on the right, Chris has shown some promise coming into the side at the end of last season. His belligerent style, often compared to former Vale star Gareth Ainsworth, has already appeased the fans and Chris has given notice to be a performer to be reckoned with this term.” was what the Port Vale official website stated about Birchall.
So far this season he has six goals in 27 appearances for Vale. His last goal was in a 5-0 win over Barnsley last Saturday and the BBC described the goal the with the following words: “Birchall opened the scoring after exchanging passes with Lee Matthews and smashing home a 25-yard half-volley.”
“It’s just  a real privilege to get a chance to try out with the Trinidad and Tobago National team and I am really looking forward to it. To say the truth, I was a bit nervous at first when the call came but now I’m just really anxious to get down to Trinidad and start training with the rest of the boys and hopefully be able to make a contribution to the World Cup effort,” Birchall told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Birchall’s mother, Jennifer, was born in Port of Spain before moving to England where she met the player’s English father. The Port Vale man has lived in England all his life and has never visited these shores.
“I think my mom  might be even prouder than I am at the moment. I have heard of Dwight and Shaka and some of the other guys up here. I know Rougier was at Vale. I played against Carlos (Edwards) and  Dennis (Lawrence) last night. And well I know Clayton (Ince) is going to take care of me when I get there. Because of the whole Trinidad Connection, it makes it even more exciting but again it’s all serious business when it comes down to the football,” Birchall added.
He travel arrangements have already been sorted out by Warner and he is expected here on May 10.
Beenhakker was briefed on his availability on Tuesday and will have him in the squad for training during next month.
”We need to have everyone and everything on board in our efforts to get to Germany and fittingly the young player will be given a chance to try out with the team and it will be left up to the coach to make the final decision,” Warner stated from London.

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