Scarff living the dream of being an international footballer

TAVISTOCK DEFENDER PROUD TO MAKE HIS DEBUT FOR BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS' NATIONAL TEAM

- STUART JAMES

WHEN Taylor Scarff took a call inviting him on an all-expenses paid trip to play international football for the British Virgin Islands recently, he thought it was a wind-up. I mean, just how many international footballers playing Step Four football, let alone for little old Tavistock.

As it transpired, it wasn't a joke and after a week away, the 23-yearold former Yeovil Town and Liverpool Academy youngster is back in his hometown of Plymouth and openly admits that he has just experienced the trip of a lifetime.

It was in his younger days that Scarff's association with the British Virgin Islands (BVI) began. He was called up for their youth team and played in a couple of matches in Suriname as a 16-year-old. Still on their radar, they have always stayed in touch, but he was unable to represent the national team - until now.

The 23-year-old was plucked from Mount Gould, where he played to be with his mates, by Tavistock manager Stuart Henderson, a coach that takes great pride in unearthing young gems. The step up from Mount Gould to Tavi was a big one, but one Scarff has taken in his giant strides almost seemlessly as he soon became a mainstay of the Lambs' backline. Little did he know that his outstanding form for Tavi would ultimately lead to international honours.

"About three months ago, I had a phone call from Chris Kiwomya, who is the manager of BVI," Scarff said, now back from his extraordinary trip. "He said he'd heard all about me, they had been keeping an eye on me and seen I'd been doing well for Tavistock, he said a lot of people out in the Virgin Islands had seen me play and they wanted me over here.