CHRIS Foggo, OJ Pitcher and Ryan Steede are getting the type of opportunities in England that one of Bermuda's former top batsmen wished had come his way 35 years ago.

Vernon Foggo, the father of Chris, and one of Bermuda's most exciting batsmen during the 1960s and early 70s, is pleased for the local trio who will be playing in two different parts of England this summer.

Vernon accompanied his son to England recently to help him settle in at his club, Pyrford, who play in the Surrey League just outside London. Pitcher will join him at Pyrford in a couple of weeks' time, after he finishes his studies at Bermuda College.

Steede, of St. George's, left the Island this week for a season with Atherstone Cricket Club in Birmingham...arrangements made by former Bermuda allrounder Noel Gibbons who will join the club on a temporary basis as player-coach.

Foggo and Pitcher will link up with former Bermuda national coach Roland Butcher who is the player-coach at Pyrford. They open their season tomorrow with Foggo the team's wicketkeeper And from what Vernon Foggo saw of the club during his 10-day stay in England, it will be a good experience for the two St. David's teenagers who will be living less than a mile from their club.

"Even though they (Pyrford players) are not professionals, their attitude towards the game is where it should be," said Foggo. "They play it hard and play if fair."

According to the team captain, Foggo will bat at number four, Pitcher at five and Butcher at number six in the Pyrford batting order. The Bermudian youngsters will live with the club's Pakistani professional, Adeem Afzel, a middle order batsman and fast bowler.

"He topped the averages in batting and bowling last year," said Foggo Sr.

"Most of these teams in England have overseas professionals. The door will be open for them (Foggo and Pitcher) to go back. If everything goes well they will be invited back, I'm almost sure of that.

"If we can get young guys over there playing with and against opposition like that it can only be for the good. Only one problem they will have is getting used to the slow wickets.

"I think it is a great opportunity, 35 years too late for me!"

The weather, too, will be something foreign to the Bermuda players, as conditions change quickly...warm one moment and cold the next.

Foggo Sr had a taste of the conditions in England back in 1969 when he went on a tour of Denmark, Holland and England with a Bermuda team that contained the likes of Charles Daulphin, Rupert Scotland, Eldon, Lee, Sheridan and Willard Raynor, Clarence Parfitt, Dennis Wainwright and Harold Millett. He never forgot the experience.

Chris recently spent nine weeks in South Africa and that, combined with this experience, will help him mature as a player.

"I noticed a difference when he came back, I could see a change in his attitude," said his father.

"He wants to go as far as he can in the game. He said he loved South Africa."

Chris is also an aspiring journalist, but in the meantime he will be looking to make the headlines. He celebrates his 20th birthday next Tuesday while Pitcher will soon be turning 19.

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Pitcher is expected to be in the St. David's team when they open the defence of their Camel Cup title this weekend against St. George's in the semi-final at Wellington Oval. The other semi-final at Lord's sees Western Stars playing Southampton Rangers, with the final scheduled for Sunday at Sea Breeze Oval. Earlier in the week it looked extremely doubtful the recently relaid Sea Breeze Oval wicket would be ready by this weekend.

St. David's enjoyed their first Camel Cup triumph last season when they became the fifth winners of the competition in its 15-year history. To reach the final they will first have to overcome the most successful team in the competition, five-time winners St. George's, who are being captained this year by Graham Fox.

The matches clash with the Barbados Test match and some of the teams could be without key players. St. David's may be without captain Clay Smith who is struggling with a knee injury that was aggravated during the soccer season. His brother Wendell is making a return to the game this season as a St. David's player and his debut could come against his former team. Mackie Crane has also moved to St. David's.

St. George's have played three warmup matches and indications are this will be a rebuilding season for them with a number of young players getting exposure this season.

A St. David's-Stars final looks the most likely final - which would be a repeat of last year's final when St. David's won a high scoring contest at Southampton Rangers by three wickets. The 284 St. David's scored was the highest winning total by a team batting second since the Camel Cup began in 1987.