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« on: July 10, 2005, 12:15:29 PM »
Vale's man makes mark
Nicholas Harling
Sunday July 10, 2005
The Observer
In a week of sporting surprises, Chris Birchall of Port Vale made football history, becoming the first white man to score a goal for Trinidad and Tobago. It happened in Miami on Wednesday in the Orange Bowl, in his country's opening Concacaf Gold Cup group game against Honduras.
After 27 minutes Birchall calmly put his side ahead with a shot into the roof of the net from outside the area.
Birchall's grandparents on his mother's side emigrated to Trinidad 50 years ago. When his mother returned to live in Britain, she met Birchall's father. Birchall moved with his parents to Stafford from Merseyside when he was a toddler.
'It was my most memorable goal to date,' said the 21-year-old after the 1-1 draw. 'The way it was set up [with a square pass from Dundee United's Jason Scotland] simply invited me to strike. They normally go over in training.' Trinidad play their second game against Panama, which was postponed yesterday because of Hurricane Dennis.
Birchall is clearly a scorer of notable goals. The one he got to start Vale's 5-0 rout of Barnsley last season, a glorious half-volley that followed a solo run from the halfway line, was voted the club's best goal of the campaign.
He scored eight in all from the right wing, which is not where Leo Beenhakker, Trinidad's esteemed Dutch coach, prefers to use him. 'I had never played central midfield before,' said Birchall, referring to his national role.
Birchall seems destined for a grander stage, not least an appearance at the World Cup finals next summer if Trinidad and Tobago maintain progress in their Concacaf group.
He will, though, remain faithful to Vale for the moment. 'When Vale offered me a two-year extension to my contract I signed straight away,' he said.
Can anybody confirm he is indeed the first 'white' goal scorer?