Christopher Birchall appears to be thrilled at the opportunity being presented to him to rejoin the National Team for the upcoming friendly international against Jamaica.
The Port Vale midfielder has been recalled by head coach Stephen Hart for the match as a way of having the T&T faithful to show their appreciation for him and Ipswich Town’s Carlos Edwards when T&T meets Jamaica in an international friendly on Tuesday November 19th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 8pm.
Birchall has already announced his retirement from international game while the 35-year-old Edwards is yet to officially throw the towel despite hinting at the possibility.
“I’m obviously delighted to be invited back for the Jamaica game. I’m honoured that the coach Stephen Hart and the association have put thought into my career and I’m glad that he (Hart) feels it would fitting for me to say goodbye to the general public and everyone associated with Trinidad and Tobago football since I started eight years ago,” Birchall told TTFA Media on Sunday.
“I could not be happier to be coming back to say goodbye and have this farewell game in front of the T&T fans. They have been absolutely tremendous with me throughout my international career and have supported me from day one through the great times and the dark times and I'm excited to play one last game for them and especially the derby in which I've always wanted to play in against Jamaica,” added the former Coventry City player.
Birchall made his international debut in a 4-0 win over Bermuda on May 25, 2005 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and his wonderful strike against Bahrain in the first leg of the 2006 World Cup playoff will go down as one of the most important goals ever scored at the venue for Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Hasely Crawford stadium has always been a good venue for me with lots of fond memories. From making my competitive debut against Panama to the two-goal comeback against Guatemala to the victory against Mexico and then the goal against Bahrain in that incredible atmosphere.
I always get told no one has ever seen the crowd all raise up together at any one moment until they saw my goal go in. It still gives me goosebumps now watching it back. I have had some unbelievable times in the T&T number 7 Jersey and have always been one hundred percent proud and committed to giving my all and cannot wait to do it one last time,” Birchall added.
The 29-year-old has scored four goals in 43 matches for T&T. He made his debut at age 21. Birchall stated his career at Port Vale, before moving to Coventry after the 2006 World Cup and also having stints at St Mirren, Carlisle United and Brighton.
In 2009 he joined MLS club LA Galaxy where he played alongside former England captain David Beckham. During that period they were crowned Major League Soccer Western Conference champions in 2009 and 2011, and also captured a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup double in 2011. He joined Columbus Crew for a six-month spell in May 2012.
Birchall was approached by T&T in 2005 after it was discovered that he had T&T roots. The story says that Dennis Lawrence, after being prompted by agent Mike Berry, spoke to the player initially and he later replied that “Me mum” was infact born in T&T.
During the 2006 campaign, the then team captain Dwight Yorke spoke about Birchall’s influence, saying “"At the time he joined the team he was the odd guy out but we all welcome him with open arms and he's been very much a key player to our team. He's come in and done a fantastic job and has become an influential player.
Two of Birchall’s 2006 World Cup teammates Kenwyne Jones, now the captain and midfielder Densill Theobald are the other current day players in the squad to face the “Reggae Boyz”. The T&T squad will depart on Tuesday morning for Montego Bay where they will face the 1998 World Cup finalists in the first friendly on Friday.