For a long while Ryan Steede has been regarded as a fast bowler with potential. Now, thanks to former Bermuda and Bailey's Bay allrounder Noel Gibbons, he can work at becoming one of the best on the Island.

The tall St. George's player, along with Gibbons, leaves tomorrow bound for England, where the pair will join Atherstone Cricket Club in Birmingham - Steede as a player and Gibbons as temporary player-coach.

While Steede will sign on for a full season, Gibbons, who was a player at the club four years ago, will fill a void while the work permit of a Sri Lankan player-coach sought by the club is cleared.

"`I am really happy for Ryan because it finally gives him a good opportunity to reach greater heights in the sport of cricket," said Gibbons. "I always saw him as a player who wanted to learn and upgrade his game. He has a lot of talent and maybe he has been having problems in bringing it out fully.

"`I do think taking him over there is a good choice because there is no doubt that his overall performance as a bowler will take off. The atmosphere in England or anywhere else outside of the Island where a player gets the chance to participate with new players and in new conditions will obviously enhance his game."

It was just over a month ago that Gibbons got the call from Atherstone asking if he knew of two young players who would like to join their ranks, preferably allrounders and in their mid-20s or younger.

Gibbons contacted another Bermudian, whose name he hasn't disclosed. But he wasn't unavailable although the plan remains for a second player to join Steede at the club.

A regular in the St. George's Premier Division team for several seasons, Steede was a reserve in last year's Cup Match but played in the mid-summer classic two years ago.

His presence in England will mean that Bermuda will have three youngsters active with clubs there, the others being St. David's pair OJ Pitcher and Chris Foggo who are set to join Pyrford Cricket Club who are coached by former Bermuda national coach Roland Butcher.

While Gibbons departs with Steede, the veteran's stay in England will be brief as he intends to remain for just two days before jetting off to South Africa to participate in an Advanced International coaching course.

The invitation has been extended by the South African Cricket Academy after Atherstone applied for a place for Gibbons who will be one of 22 participants from 18 different countries.

"I'm really excited about taking this course. My long-term plan has always been to coach and if I am successful in completing a top course like this it will make it easier for me to reach my goals to coach at a national level," said Gibbons, now in his mid 40s.

"Coaching opportunities are opening up often for qualified people. I don't know if anything is going to open up for me here in Bermuda, but it's going to happen somewhere in the world. Right now it looks more likely that it will happen in England, but who knows?

The South African course runs from April 20 to May 23 and once it is completed Gibbons will return to join Steede at Atherstone for two months before rejoining his local club, Bailey's Bay, as coach around the middle of summer.