Bermuda national team goalkeeper Tahj Bell still harbours hopes of turning professional after impressing between the sticks at UK non-league club Hitchen Town this season.

Bell’s eye-catching displays have seen him become a fans’ favourite at the Canaries, who he signed for in the summer following a brief training stint at Conference Premier side Barnet.

Semi-pro side Hitchen play in the Southern League Premier Division — just two leagues below the Conference Premier — a level Bell believes he can reach if he continues to improve the weaker areas of his game.

“I came over here to train with Barnet and then met a guy connected with Hitchen who hooked me up with them,” said the former Somerset Eagles man.

“I’m still thinking about playing at a higher level and I’m still trying to get there.

“I’m just taking it a game at a time and I just have to keep playing well.

“I still need to improve my game, especially my kicking, but my footwork and ball handling has improved.”

Bell spent last season at Eccleshall FC, who play two tiers below Hitchen, following a short spell alongside Bradford City’s Nahki Wells at the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in Leeds.

Although Bells’ trajectory has been somewhat slower than Wells’ — one of the hottest properties outside the Premier League — he is still only 22, comparatively young for a keeper and has plenty of time on his side.

“I’m at a good club in Hitchen and it’s a very competitive league,” Bell said.

“It’s a lot higher than in Bermuda and the league I played in when I was at Eccleshall.

“We’ve got a good fan base with around 300 supporters at each game and we get a few scouts coming to watch us.

“The fans always give you a confidence boost at Hitchen and playing at home is way better than playing away!”

The 6ft 5in shot stopper is one of several young Bermuda players learning their trade in the muck and nettles of the UK non-leagues.

At Ilkeston FC, who play in the Northern League Premier Division and have an official partnership with Bermuda Hogges, Antwan Russell, Lejuan Simmons, Dante Leverock and Rai Simons are all making their mark.

And Bell believes it’s important for the Island’s top youngsters to be playing regularly overseas in order for the national team to flourish.

“It’s cool to see everyone getting opportunities unlike back in the day when you really couldn’t get out of Bermuda,” he added.

“It’s good for Bermudian players to be getting overseas experience, not just the likes of Nahki (Wells), Reggie (Lambe) and Freddy (Hall).

“Ilkeston are doing better than Hitchen at the moment and I was up there a few weeks ago to watch a couple of games.

“Almost the entire national team is playing overseas now which can only be good for Bermuda football.”

Hitchen, who are 19th in the league table, travel to AFC Totton on Saturday.