Politicians and fellow former pros were given the chance to Feed with the Goat yesterday at an afternoon of events to mark the return home of one of the Island?s most successful footballing sons.

The ceremony began on the lawn of the Cabinet Office with half the Cabinet and pupils from Shaun Goater?s old school, Whitney Institute, gathering to hear welcoming words from the Premier as well as Sports Minister Dale Butler and the former Manchester City, Rotherham, Reading, Bristol City, Coventry and Southend striker himself.

Following a motorcade down to the Hamilton Princess, the Goat sat down to lunch with a selection of politicians and former international and North Village team-mates.

It was an afternoon of anecdotes and praise for Goater, who hung up his boots last month after an illustrious 14-year career that featured more than 250 goals ? none more memorable than those scored for City against Manchester United.

?It?s great to be home,? said Goater, following warm tributes from North Village stalwart Shervin Dill ? who presented him with a number nine Village shirt in an early attempt to lure the star striker into their Commercial team ? Terry Lister, former soccer pro and Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton, Bermuda Football Association treasurer and acting president Andrew Griffin, former pros Kyle Lightbourne and David Bascome as well as BFA secretary David Sabir.

?We have been over in England so long now, I am looking forward to the slower pace of life ? there is no place like Bermuda and there is no place like home and it?s great to be back.

?We had some hard times over the years, I look back at our first days in Rotherham, it was so cold that even when the heating was up full, you could still see your breath.

?We have been through a lot and I am grateful for all the support I have had.?

Goater then moved onto an Oscar-style thank you speech, including heartfelt gratitude to his mother, his wife Anita, his daughters Amaya and Anais, as well as fellow pros Lightbourne and Bascome, the BFA, North Village and ?the whole of Bermuda for all the support they have given me over the years, you don?t know what it has meant to me?.

It was clearly an emotional day for Goater, the ultimate professional who was regaled by the various speakers with tales of matches played when they were schoolboys, of his goals against Manchester United and of his humility and professionalism despite all he has achieved.

There were also wishes expressed that Goater, whose former side Southend come on tour here later this month, would continue working with the game in Bermuda and would help find the next generation of Shaun Goaters.

Typically for a footballer who has carved out a reputation as true gentleman of the game, Goater even apologised to the people of Bermuda for the international games he missed over the years due to club commitments.

?The first thing I have to do is get myself and my house sorted out,? he said to the media afterwards.

?And then we have a few projects in mind for Bermuda football, I?ll let you know.?

Goater is also releasing his autobiography later in the year, with launches both here and in the UK, and is set to play 20 minutes for both Southend and for Lightbourne?s national side when they clash at the end of the month in a tour game.