LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Simon Ford in action for the Reggae Boyz against St Vincent and the Grenadines.
THE FOREIGN legion in the Reggae Boyz squad bidding for a World Cup appearance in South Africa 2010 got a pair of new faces ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, which begin next week.
Joining home-grown overseas-based players such as Ricardo Gardner, Ricardo Fuller and Luton Shelton were UK-born Simon Ford and Lee Williamson, both of Jamaican parents. Ford made his debut on Tuesday in Jamaica's 5-1 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines and played reasonably well though, by his own admission, he didn't have much to do. Williamson, who picked up a thigh injury during the training camp, was relegated to the sideline, but is champing at the bit to get a piece of the action in a Jamaica uniform.
Happy to play
Williamson .. sidelined by injury.
"I'm not happy at all (that I couldn't play). I came here to play football and play as many games as I can," said the Watford midfielder who turns 26 today. "Unfortunately, I picked up an injury. But I've put it behind me and looking forward to the next game."
For Ford, who plays for Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League, the reality of his long-time dream sunk in when he stood in front of 10,000 fans listening to the national anthem.
"I felt proud and honoured to play in a Jamaica uniform for the first time. It really hit home when I heard the national anthem and then I realised where I am and what kind of game it was," said the 26-year-old defender.
In Jamaica's successful 1998 World Cup campaign, four England-born players were initially in the squad - Robbie Earle, Deon Burton, Paul Hall and Fitzroy Simpson. In this campaign, first-timers Williamson and Ford join Marlon King, Burton, Richard Langley and Jamal Campbell-Ryce as the England-born players in the squad.
Ford, whose father is from St Thomas and mother from Manchester, had expressed an interest in playing for Jamaica as far back as 2006. He got his break when the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) summoned Simpson to submit a report on him.
Over the past two years, Ford has battled several injuries and has been through knee and hip surgeries. He said his focus was on returning to his best and working towards match fitness.
"I thought I was OK," Ford said of his performance on Tues-day night.
Nothing too special. I just tried to keep it simple. There's definitely more to come. I just need to build my fitness and get up to the pace of it."
Both players were in England when Jamaica qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France and, because of their Jamaican roots, kept a close eye on the nation's qualifiers and first World Cup appearance.
Means everything
Veteran Ian Goodison (right) was Jamaica's best player against SVG, according to René Simoes.
"I know what it meant to my family and people in London, which has a big Jamaican community - it meant everything to them, so obviously over here it would have meant 10 times more," said Ford.
"Hopefully, I can be a part of something like that and bring back good times to the country."
Williamson said he closely followed the exploits of 1998 World Cup qualifying hero and close friend Burton.
"I followed Deon because he used to play for Derby County and that's where I was born, so I was close to Deon then and I followed them and it was exciting and it's always something I wanted to do - play in the World Cup," said Williamson.
"To see someone like Deon, who has lived more or less next door to me, go on and get to the World Cup in '98, I want to follow him and do the same in 2010."
