Four of Bermuda's top youngsters are in England looking to follow in the footsteps of Shaun Goater.

Stephen Astwood, Khano Smith, Damon Ming and Kevin Richards are all playing with professional clubs in the UK this week, desperate to earn a chance to make soccer their full-time career.

But Astwood, who came off the bench for Grimsby in a friendly against Halifax last night, seems to have the best chance, having been invited to an 'official' trial, while the others are just training with professional clubs largely for experience.

Richards, who was snapped up by Major League Soccer outfit Colorado Rapids after a successful career at Notre Dame University, has been training with Conference side Barnet after a trial with Ross County fell through.

Ming, Smith and Astwood spent two weeks at Oxford United, a League Two (formerly Division Three) side and Smith has been kept on there, while Ming has since moved on to Barnet as Astwood headed north to Blundell Park, home of Grimsby,

The striker, who appeared in Bermuda's World Cup campaign alongside Shaun Goater, has previously had trials with a number of different sides at all levels of English football, including Peterborough, Portsmouth and Spurs - while a move to Preston North End only collapsed over work permit concerns.

The trials were all organised by Paul Scope, assistant coach at Somerset Trojans and a former non-league player in England, along with former national coach Mark Trott and Clyde Best, the legendary former West Ham striker.

"This represents an excellent opportunity for these boys to get some experience," said Scope, who is friends with Oxford boss Graham Rix as well as Barnet's manager Paul Fairclough.

"Now is not a great time to be trying to break into the English professional ranks because, basically, the clubs have no money at the moment. If anything, they are looking to off-load contracts but the worst that can happen is that these guys get a chance to practice with professionals and see how it all works.

"They will come back better players and you never know what can happen. If they do well, and I know that they have been impressing the coaches over there, then something may come up in the future."

He added that Astwood, who spent two weeks at Oxford before moving on to Grimsby - a deal arranged with the help of former pro Kyle Lightbourne who has contacts at Blundell Park - had the best chance of coming away with a contract.

"Astwood is a good player and I think he has what it takes to manage at that level of football," added Scope.

"He has the most realistic chance of getting signed up because he is actually on a proper trial. To be honest, I think all the guys can cope at that level but it just a matter of opportunity.

"Bermuda's relative international isolation makes it hard to match the experience of academy players in the UK, but if you have the talent, you have the talent."

Smith, meanwhile, still with Oxford, made the short trip down the road last night to the Madejski Stadium to watch Goater's Reading take on Manchester City, the legendary striker's former club.

Goater, who has not been allowed more than 45 minutes of action so far in pre-season, started last night's game which Reading lost 3-1 despite taking an 11th minute lead.

Bizarrely and somewhat irresponsibly, Grimsby Town's official website yesterday published a picture of Goater under the headline 'Bermudan striker on trial'.

"Russell Slade (the Mariners manager) is today giving a trial to a big Bermudan striker as he looks to complete his squad ahead of Saturday's big kick-off, "read the statement on the website.

"The Town boss is keen not to reveal his identity at this stage but says that he will be named within the next 24 hours."

Then there is a picture of Goater and the caption "Shaun Goater - could it be him?" It isn't, it is Astwood.