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Demar Phillips signs for Stoke City
Hurbun Williams, Observer writer
Thursday, September 06, 2007
PHILLIPS (front)... highly recommended by Ricardo Fuller
Jamaican international and Waterhouse FC player Demar Phillips is now on the payroll at English club Stoke City.
The two-time National Premier League (NPL) champions thus broke new ground in signing their first player to the English Championship League, joining local clubs Harbour View, Portmore United, Seba United and Olympic Gardens in this regard.
Phillips recently signed a three-year contract that binds him to the club until 2010.
Fellow national international Ricardo Fuller - a leading striker at Stoke City - played a major part in Phillips' arrival at Britannia after recommending Phillips to manager Tony Pulis.
This no doubt contributed to Phillips being signed without a trial, as Pulis said that praises from Fuller normally means "a very good player".
"For Ricardo to give an ounce of praise, they must have something good about them," Pulis added.
Following Phillips' signing, Pulis said on the club's website that "Im delighted we've signed an exceptionally exciting player from Jamaica. He's a quality left-sided player with plenty of pace and one we hope will develop for the future."
Phillips, a 23-year-old left-sided midfielder with 27 international caps, joined the English outfit for an undisclosed fee - a subject which Waterhouse president Peter Hibbert said he was not at liberty to divulge.
The St Thomas player attended Seaford Secondary and was introduced to the Drewsland outfit by then coach Calvert Fitzgerald, who described him as a "very good prospect" at the beginning of the 2001-2002 NPL season.
Since then Phillips has developed steadily, but according to Hibbert, "you and I know that football at that level requires the correct aptitude and attitude... as you can be as good as gold and the club does not believe that you can be part of the chemistry and you will not get a lucrative contract".
"In preparation for this kind of opportunity we... have been working with Demar on his all-round development. I saw him in New York when we went to play against the Brooklyn Knights and you could clearly see the growth and it was then that we started the discussions...
"However, the negotiations started earlier due to my direct link with Phil Graham (football agent), whom I have worked with for many years, firstly with Ricardo Fuller."
Hibbert regards Phillips' signing as an opportunity for the player to get Waterhouse Football Club's name and image on the international stage.
"The message we are sending and the work that the executive is doing at Waterhouse is to always create opportunity," he said.
Phillips was expected to arrive in the island yesterday from England to wrap up business as he prepares for his long-term relocation to his new home.
Hurbun Williams, Observer writer
Thursday, September 06, 2007
PHILLIPS (front)... highly recommended by Ricardo Fuller
Jamaican international and Waterhouse FC player Demar Phillips is now on the payroll at English club Stoke City.
The two-time National Premier League (NPL) champions thus broke new ground in signing their first player to the English Championship League, joining local clubs Harbour View, Portmore United, Seba United and Olympic Gardens in this regard.
Phillips recently signed a three-year contract that binds him to the club until 2010.
Fellow national international Ricardo Fuller - a leading striker at Stoke City - played a major part in Phillips' arrival at Britannia after recommending Phillips to manager Tony Pulis.
This no doubt contributed to Phillips being signed without a trial, as Pulis said that praises from Fuller normally means "a very good player".
"For Ricardo to give an ounce of praise, they must have something good about them," Pulis added.
Following Phillips' signing, Pulis said on the club's website that "Im delighted we've signed an exceptionally exciting player from Jamaica. He's a quality left-sided player with plenty of pace and one we hope will develop for the future."
Phillips, a 23-year-old left-sided midfielder with 27 international caps, joined the English outfit for an undisclosed fee - a subject which Waterhouse president Peter Hibbert said he was not at liberty to divulge.
The St Thomas player attended Seaford Secondary and was introduced to the Drewsland outfit by then coach Calvert Fitzgerald, who described him as a "very good prospect" at the beginning of the 2001-2002 NPL season.
Since then Phillips has developed steadily, but according to Hibbert, "you and I know that football at that level requires the correct aptitude and attitude... as you can be as good as gold and the club does not believe that you can be part of the chemistry and you will not get a lucrative contract".
"In preparation for this kind of opportunity we... have been working with Demar on his all-round development. I saw him in New York when we went to play against the Brooklyn Knights and you could clearly see the growth and it was then that we started the discussions...
"However, the negotiations started earlier due to my direct link with Phil Graham (football agent), whom I have worked with for many years, firstly with Ricardo Fuller."
Hibbert regards Phillips' signing as an opportunity for the player to get Waterhouse Football Club's name and image on the international stage.
"The message we are sending and the work that the executive is doing at Waterhouse is to always create opportunity," he said.
Phillips was expected to arrive in the island yesterday from England to wrap up business as he prepares for his long-term relocation to his new home.