Players form United Nations of Dinnington

The Phoenix Park’s second string side is filling up with promising young players from a number of different countries around the world.

When they took on and thrashed Heanor Town Reserves away from home on Saturday, there was a truly multi-national look to the team.

Firsts boss Steve Toyne explained: “There was an English goalkeeper, Italian right-back, a Jamaican winger, an Uzbekistani in the middle, a French left winger, a Pakistani lad up front and a Portuguese player on the bench.”

“People ring me about players because they know we’re not adverse to bringing in foreign lads.”

“They’re all good, young footballers.”

“One of the lads has been two years at Leeds, another has come through at Sheffield United.”

The first team has had its fair share of international players in recent times, with Georgian youth international Dachi Khutsishvili claiming a starting place this season and Pierre Mercie from Haiti turning out for Toyne in 2008.