Cross-Atlantic recruits love the warm welcome

BELS have gone global in their quest for silverware. They have secured the services of Americans Mark Laws II, 26, and close friend Lucien Starzynski, 30, as well as Swiss lawyer Pascal Grob, 24.

Laws and Grob scored their first goals for the club in their 7-1 Fletcher Sports FA Cup first-round victory against Courts on Friday night.

The two Americans both played semi-professional football for Albuquerque Asylum FC in the National Professional Soccer League in New Mexico, so have a proven pedigree.

They received international clearance to play in Guernsey only in the last week.

Their games were played in the western region of the US and, after having travelled extensively, they moved to the island a fortnight ago.

Laws was born in England and raised in America and has played football since the age of four. His father is in the American Air Force.

He prefers to play as a striker or attacking midfielder, is lightning quick and has played for Eastwood in the Unibond Premier League and Ilkeston Town.

'I love to score goals but love to create - I'm more a rounded player than a selfish type,' he said.

He believes Guernsey football is similar to the English game and direct. He rates the standard at Priaulx level as comparable to northern counties and, possibly, Unibond Division One.

'I will be here for the next five or six years and I just want to stay fit,' he said.

Bels' gain is Vale Rec's loss and he appreciated how friendly Bels players and coaching staff had been to the pair of them.

'They are great. It's the main reason we signed.'

When they arrived, they looked at the Guernsey FA website and called the helpline and trained with Vale Rec.

They went to watch Bels against Sylvans and decided to talk to Micky Ogier.

'As soon as we met him and the lads, we pretty much made our decision and signed with them that day,' said Laws.

He admitted he would love to play for Guernsey.

'I love it here and can't wait until the summer,' said the sports massage therapist and personal trainer, whose fiancee, Victoria Day, a biomedical scientist from Manchester, works at the PEH in the pathology lab.

Starzynski is continuing his travelling and playing football wherever he goes. He has coached football and been a teacher in America.

'We were both born and raised in the same city and have played football all our lives. We became close mates and were room mates for the Asylum and we decided to come to the UK to play,' he said.

He played professionally for three years in Africa for a team called the Highlanders in the Zimbabwean professional league.

But the midfielder does not know how long he will stay in the island - much is dependent on work opportunities.

He could make his debut for the club later this week.

'I want to help this team if possible,' he said.

Grob, who hails from Zug, between Zurich and Lucerne, has now played several games for the first team, but the centre back is in the island only until the end of January.

He has to return to his homeland then to fulfil his contract.

He believes the standard of Priaulx football is very good and similar to that he plays back home, although the average footballer is generally taller and physically stronger in Switzerland.

'They are technically better here,' he said.

'It's a nice bunch of guys and they made me feel welcome from the first minute. It's different in Switzerland - here it's open arms.'

He likes the physical side of the game locally.

'There is a good atmosphere with the other clubs and the referees let the games go on and don't whistle for everything. They don't give out yellow cards as much as in Switzerland and that is better.'