Manchester City has left some locals reflecting with pride on their part in his early career -- none more so than the man whose efforts took the teenaged Goater to England 12 years ago.

Legend has it that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was so impressed with Goater when he saw him play during United's Bermuda tour of 1987 that he invited him over for a trial at Old Trafford the following year.

But that version of the story ignores the role of Mark Trott, then working as sports development officer with the Department of Tourism, whose actions set the former North Village and Boulevard player on the long road to the Premier League.

Trott, now coach of Dandy Town and Bermuda under-23s, had heard United players including Bryan Robson and Jesper Olsen talking admiringly of the young Goater's abilities during their tour and a week later he sent off a speculative letter to Ferguson to suggest the player be given a trial.

Ferguson wrote back to Trott, agreeing to give Goater two weeks to prove himself, and so the door of professional soccer opened for the young striker.

Goater stayed at Old Trafford for two years, enjoying a fair degree of success in United's `A' and reserve teams, before his need for first team football took him to Rotherham.

Goater's slog to the top entailed six seasons at Rotherham, followed by nearly two years at Bristol City before his 400,000 transfer to Manchester City two years ago, culminating in last week's rise to the top flight.

No-one will ever know what path Goater's career might have taken, had Trott never put pen to paper and made his audacious approach to Ferguson.

"I look back on that with a lot of satisfaction,'' said Trott. "It was a case of me, a nobody as far as people in professional football in England were concerned, asking Alex Ferguson to take a chance on a guy.

"Shaun always had a lot of talent, I just thought he needed to be given a chance to make the grade.'' In his reply, dated January 13, 1988, Ferguson apologised for his delay in responding to Trott's letter, saying that United were going through a busy time, with two big cup ties in the space of 10 days.

Ferguson added: "I have noted your comments regarding the young boy and if he would like to come over for two weeks, then we can look after him and watch him. I think the best time would probably be March, when the weather is better.'' That paragraph provided the young Goater with the chance he was looking for and in a second letter from Old Trafford, dated February 5, 1988, United's youth development officer Joe Brown made the formal offer of a trial from March 14-28.

The club would pay for accommodation, while Goater had to pay travel costs and other expenses.

Trott recalled that the teenager received support from others. "The former BFA president Charlie Marshall put up the money for the air fare. Nick Jones, a good friend of mine -- we went to Acadia University together -- agreed to travel with Shaun and stay with him a while, so he'd have a familiar face around.'' The trial resulted in Goater's first professional contract.

Another local involved in Goater's early soccer progress was Harold Dowling, who coached him as a young boy at North Village.

But Dowling suggested there had been little indication at that time that Goater would go on to play in the English Premier League.

"He was nothing special,'' said Dowling. "I'm pretty sure other players like David Bascome and Kyle Lightbourne could do just as well.'' Shaun Goater: a talented teen with North Village.