Bermudian football has been a bagful of surprises for former West Ham United defender Kenny Brown.

The Uefa pro licence coach is in the midst of a two-week training stint on the island, developing young players in the Footy Star programme at North Field, National Sports Centre.

Brown has more than 15 years of coaching experience and is presently the academy head of coaching at Sky Bet Championship side Millwall — but admits he knew very little about Bermudian football before his visit.

Both the attitude of the players and standard of the facilities have been “first class”, according to Brown, who has also been impressed with the technical ability of the island’s hopefuls.

“I’ve seen [Bermuda] for my own eyes now and the facilities here are fantastic,” Brown said. “I’ve only seen a small pool of players and I can only imagine the talent that’s actually here.

“Every single kid has shown a first-class attitude, from their timekeeping and politeness to their desire for hard work. I really can’t fault them.

“Technically the players are very good, but physically they could probably be fitter — but there are probably numerous reasons for that. I’ve also been able to have meetings with the Bermuda Football Association and just get a feel of how football runs in Bermuda.”

Unsurprisingly, as a former West Ham player, Brown’s first reference point to Bermudian football was Clyde Best — the island’s most famous sporting son.

Brown took time out of his twice-daily coaching sessions to meet with Best, who he describes as an “absolute legend” at the East London club.

“I’d met Clyde once before and he’s revered at West Ham,” said Brown, who made 63 appearances for West Ham in the early Nineties.

“I spent a couple of hours with him in Hamilton and we had a drink and a bite to eat. He’s a massive gentleman and I can see that everyone loves him here.”

Since Best blazed a trail for other black players to follow in the late Sixties there have been several Bermudian exports to have graced the English game, most notably Shaun Goater, Kyle Lightbourne and Nahki Wells.

Based on the small section of Bermudian talent witnessed by Brown, including two showcase matches featuring some of the island’s most promising players at Goose Gosling Field, he is certain plenty of players will follow.

“Shaun was a fantastic player and highly respected, especially at Manchester City,” said Brown, who also played for Norwich City and Birmingham City.

“Back then it was like, ‘He’s from Bermuda, that’s the other side of the world, we won’t get players like that.

“But Nahki has changed that. He’s come over, adapted quickly, and performed consistently over a number of seasons. He’s really promoted Bermuda well.

“I also didn’t realise — and I imagine some people in the UK are naive to it — that Bermudians have dual passports and can go straight over to the UK.

“There’s none of the red tape that you get with European players, as it can be really hard getting boys in, whereas here there’s a natural pathway for the players to the UK.

“I know a lot of boys have already gone over and done well and are now at academies.

“That’s very promising for Bermudian football and it’s only going to get stronger.”

With Brown’s trip coinciding with the Bermuda Under-20 women’s team’s Concacaf Caribbean qualifiers at the National Stadium, the Londoner was able to watch his first live women’s matches.

As has been a recurring theme of Brown’s visit, he was pleasantly surprised.

“I don’t like saying I was surprised, but I really was,” Brown said. “It was the first time I’d actually seen a live women’s game.

“I don’t mean this disrespectfully, but it was like a proper men’s game and actually more entertaining.

“Overall I was very impressed and there were some very good, powerful players on show. I was really impressed with it and the atmosphere was brilliant.”

It has been more than 20 years since Brown’s days in the top flight during the birth of the Premier League.

None of the players in the Footy Star programme would have even been alive then, although Brown likes to remind them that he has not lost his touch just yet.

“I’ve had a few questions like, ‘Have you played in the Premier League?’, Brown, 50, said. “I was in it right at the beginning of the Premier League in the 1992-1993 season. It was a long time ago, well before these were born. I’ve given them a little reminder though that I did play a bit, although I’m a lot slower now!

“The rapport I’ve had with the players has been great and the way they hold conversations with adults is a massive testament to the way they are brought up over here.”