International makes Garforth history

Garforth’s Patrece Liburd has become the first player in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North club’s history to win an international cap.

The 24-year-old former Braford and Nottingham Forest defender could win his first international cap today [Thursday] for St Kitts & Nevis when they kick off in the Caribbean island nation’s capital Basseterre against Anguilla in the first round of qualifying matches of the CFU Carribean Cup.

Liburd, pictured, who signed from Harrogate Town at the start of the season and has also played for Macclesfield, flew out to the Caribbean earlier this week following his call-up by coach Lester Morris.

The central defender could win his second cap next Monday when the Sugar Boyz host Trinidad & Tobago in the competition at their Warner Park ground. St Kitts & Nevis were runner’s up in the competition in 1997 and shocked the CONCACAF zone by reaching the second round of qualifying on the road to 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Garforth's Secretary Chris Wright is looking forward to Liburd's return from international duty to Evo-Stik NPL action and said the defender's call-up was thoroughly deserved.

He said: "Garforth Town are immensely proud to have an international footballer among our ranks and it's a great testomony to Patrece as he never gives anything other than 100 percent. He has struggled with an injury so far this season but if he can get called up when not even fully fit we can't wait to see what he can give when one hundred per cent."

Currently ranked 109th in the World, since the start of the year they've climbed seven place in FIFA’s rankings and made it through the first qualifying round stages for the Brazil 2014 World Cup before being knocked out of CONCACAF qualifying battle after drawing 0-0 at home with Canada before losing 4-0 away.

In a friendly earlier this year they beat Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 and their opponents are hoping to take a step closer to World Cup qualification themselves over the next few days with the help of another Evo-Stik Northern Premier League star, Kendal’s Marc Joseph.

The Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division side’s captain was called up to the national squad by coach Rowan Benjamin late last month for two key qualification matches - at home to the USA on Friday and away to Jamaica next Tuesday.

Joseph, 35, made his international debut for the Caribbean island back in 2008 and could win caps number twelve and thirteen if selected to play. Anitgua and Barbuda are currently bottom of the North, Central America and Caribbean Group B which also contains leaders Guatemala.

The defender, who joined Kendal in the summer of 2011, started his career at Cambridge United before moving onto Cambridge City, Coventry City, Peterborough United, Hull, Bristol City, Blackpool and Rotherham United before joining Altrincham in Non-League.