MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Young Islander stakes claim with English soccer team.

Falkland Islands born Daniel Biggs has enhanced his prospects of becoming the first ever Islander to play professional football in the English League after being invited back next season to train with the first division team Preston North End.

16 year old Daniel, considered to be the most talented football player to emerge in the Islands in the past 20 years, has just completed a week's trial at Preston, who were last season's English Division 2 champions. Despite sustaining a leg injury he showed enough skill, dedication, ability and fitness to persuade the management at Preston to give him another extended trial in a year's time when he will be 17 years old and eligible to play in the youth team.

Meanwhile Daniel, who made his debut for the Falklands National team when only 15 years old playing against mature British Servicemen, will join other young Falkland Islanders and study for 2 years at Peter Symonds College in Winchester in the south of England, undertaking 'A' levels, before hopefully progressing to University. However that could all change should he be offered a contract by the Preston football club, which has just received 8 million pounds investment by a Lancashire central heating firm BAXI who are now the club's sponsors.

'It has always been my ambition to play soccer in England and I am grateful to Preston North End and their Manager David Moyes in particular, for giving me the opportunity to have a trial with them', said Daniel who admits to being a Manchester United supporter, and who is described in the Falklands as being a "mid-field dynamo", such is his work rate and skill.

Daniel was accompanied to Britain by his 50 year old father Peter Biggs, who is the Falkland Island Government's Income Tax officer. They made the long 18 hours journey from the Islands to England flying with the Royal Air Force on the twice weekly Tri Star aircraft flight, and paying their own 1,000 pounds return fare. 'It was well worth the cost and I was very impressed with the professionalism, organisation, attitude, approach and friendliness shown to us by the Preston management' said Peter Biggs. He continued saying, 'It is very encouraging for us that Daniel has been given the opportunity to return to Preston next year - we want to support him as much as possible in his aim to play professionally in England - but also want him to obtain some academic qualifications too'.

In addition to his week's training, Daniel also had an opportunity to se