MIDDLEWICH footballers, young and not so young, have been benefiting from the international skills of Gil Gomes.
Gomes, who played 69 times for Portugal, is not only coaching children at The Soccer Centre in the town where he has turned out twice for Middlewich Town Reserves.
Neil Thomson, the Reserves manager and boss of the Soccer Centre, said: 'He is superb, a different quality than we are used to in the Mid Cheshire League.
'To be honest, he's too good for football at our level, but it is great to have him on your side.
'He got a hat-trick in his second game. We play him up front, though he played midfield and defence professionally. But when you are that good, it doesn't matter.
'Gil was going to ask Northwich Vics, but he does not have the time to play regularly.'
The two met when both coached with the Soccer Europe scheme and Neil asked him to join him in Middlewich, where Gil and his wife and four children now live. Both also coach at Manchester United.
Even without their former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon superstar, Middlewich's second string are mounting a title challenge in the MCL Reserves Division. Mind you, they have unearthed a gem of their own in 16-year-old Winsford-based Lewis Warren, who scored a hat-trick of hattricks, three goals in successive games, during October.
It is that sort of talent Thompson and Gomes hope to nurture at the Soccer Centre, a new venture which has attracted 400 children since June.
'We are hoping to get involved in schools' curriculum time and would like as many as possible on board.'
The Centre is running after-school clubs and a Saturday session at Cranage Hall. Neil can be contacted on Middlewich 835097 for full details.
