Those who have been around local football a long time will know that Larry Smith’s involvement with the national programme under new head coach Andrew Bascome is no coincidence.The former North Village and Somerset coach has been a mentor of Bascome since he began coming through as a youngster in the North Village junior programme. And even when injury ended Bascome’s playing career and he turned to coaching, Smith was also available to offer advice. For Bascome’s first assignment as national coach, Smith will be there again, as second assistant coach/manager for the Digicel Cup squad that leaves for Haiti today.Smith was a coach when Bascome and Dennis Brown were playing together in the national youth and senior teams and now the two are coaching together at the senior national level, though Brown is not available for this trip because of work commitments.“I actually was invited to the academy prior to the (Under-20) World Cup qualifiers so I was involved with the academy which I enjoyed tremendously,” said Smith who has been away from club coaching for many years.“Then with the Under-20s the BFA gave me the privilege to accompany Gary (Darrell) as his assistant to the recently completed youth qualifiers in Puerto Rico. I thought that was done until the academy resumed, but then Andrew gave a call and said ‘can you assist Dennis (Brown) and I in preparation of the Digicel Caribbean Cup?’ Having had the opportunity to coach them both (Bascome and Brown) I did not hesitate to shepherd these guys in their coaching endeavours.“I had Andrew since he was a schoolboy, because when I was a football association staff coach years ago we had the schoolboy clinic and Andrew was in the schoolboy clinic. I’ve seen Andrew grow from about 12 years of age. I’ve seen him mature, not only in his personal game but in his coaching career. Andrew coached at Somerset and I was his mentor at Somerset as well.”Bascome’s appointment as national coach was widely welcomed and Smith is excited about the national team’s prospects under his ‘pupil’ who brings tremendous passion to the appointment.“Andrew is very passionate, very methodical, very technical and tactical and he continues to grow because he involved himself with Valencia and constantly travels to Spain to upgrade his skills. In fact he just returned from Spain,” said Smith.“He’s a guy who eats, sleeps and drinks football and he’s going to lend a lot to the future development of Bermuda football, especially at international level. Not taking anything from the previous coaches, he’s just going to embrace the foundation and I believe a new level is awaiting Bermuda under his leadership. The combination of Andrew and Dennis is an excellent combination but, once again, not taking anything away from Devarr (Boyles) Scott (Morton) and Maurice Lowe because they are also very good coaches, but this is a new era.”Added Smith: “Whenever they call I’ll be there. I don’t particularly like the senior arena any longer but just to support the Bermuda Football Association and of course my ‘son’ Andrew and Dennis, I will always be available.“Dennis and Andrew are going to be a good combination, they are not only good friends but have grown up together in football and are now coaching the national squad. I coached Andrew when North Village won the triple crown and I coached Dennis when Somerset won the double. Andrew followed me, not immediately, at Somerset and his first call was ‘can you come and assist me at Somerset?’ We’ve had a very, very long relationship.”The Under-20s played against Haiti and Puerto Rico in recent World Cup qualifiers and Smith has shared some useful information with the senior coaches ahead of the Haiti trip.“I was able to share with Andrew and Dennis, and Richard (Todd), that I do not believe that Haiti and Puerto Rico are going to change their style from the U-20s to the seniors, so we were able to begin to prepare as to how we are likely to play Haiti and Puerto Rico,” said Smith.“It’s regrettable that we didn’t have more time but I believe that we’ve done a lot in a month and the team is as prepared as we’re going to be for this tournament. The guys have been very receptive to the coaching staff and they’re ready to go.“When I have the opportunity to talk to the senior players I remind them that you are being coached by one of the finest players in the country. One thing about Andrew, as good as he was, Andrew wants to coach players to be as good as he was and better.”This year marks 30 years since Bascome and Brown were invited to trials with six English clubs. Brown, a defender who captained Bermuda’s youth team, went to Luton Town while Bascome, a midfielder, opted to accept a soccer scholarship at a college in the US.