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Ming excited to face former coach Fairclough’s side

Photo by Glenn Tucker Bermuda Hogges'

Bermuda International Damon Ming will get the opportunity to be reunited with former Barnet coach Paul Fairclough.The two men are set to be reacquainted when Fairclough travels to the Island in late Spring with England ‘C’ who will play a one-off match with Bermuda’s senior national football squad.Fairclough is the current manager of England ‘C’ and football director of League Two side Barnet where he previously coached Ming during the latter’s brief playing stint with the club several years ago.“It will be nice to see Mr Fairclough again,” said Ming, who is currently pushing for a place in Bermuda’s Island Games squad. “He is a great coach and gentleman and it would be nice to see him again.“Mr Fairclough is a great manager who led Barnet to promotion to League Two when we went on a good run. He’s a good, tactical coach who has good man managing skills and I just feel he’s a good coach at that level.”Ming made several appearances for then Conference side Barnet after joining the club in October 2004.Bermuda Football Association (BFA) announced yesterday that England ‘C’ will play the senior national squad at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on June 4 (7.30pm).“This match was made possible by the initiative of the England FA who contacted the BFA to indicate that their National ‘C’ team wanted to play against Bermuda,” BFA president Larry Mussenden said. “The BFA is very pleased because this would be the first time in recent memory that any national representative team from England would have played in against a Bermuda national team in Bermuda,”England ‘C’ is a team comprised of elite players, many of whom are full-time professionals, who will give Bermuda’s footballers a good test in what will be an ideal warm up for July’s Island Games.“This opportunity will provide the Bermuda national team players another platform by which they can measure themselves against the elite players from a football powerhouse,” Mussenden said.“This match will also provide a true barometer of where their skills and talents are at present and where it needs to be if they have any aspirations of playing at a higher level.”Ming believes the incoming tour can open new doors for those on Bermuda’s squad harbouring professional ambitions.“I believe Mr Fairclough has scouted for Arsenal so if he sees something he likes I’m sure he would recommend them to Barnet and other various clubs,” he said.“This is a great opportunity for these players, especially the younger ones, to get noticed by Mr Fairclough and his coaching staff.“It’s always good to put on a good performance and show what you are capable of because anything can happen from there. It only takes one great game to put yourself in the shop window, so it should be a good opportunity for your younger players.”As many as 30 players are currently vying for places on Bermuda’s Island Games squad.