FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Jamaican striker Deon Burton is an accidental World Cup star.

Derby County’s Burton jetted out for a holiday in the Caribbean last year hoping to relax with family and friends. His then Portsmouth teammates Paul Hall and Fitzroy Simpson, training with the Jamaican squad for the CONCACAF group qualifiers, contacted the striker and asked him if he fancied joining in a practice session.

“I only went along to get fit for the English season,” said Burton. “I had a few training sessions, got more and more involved and before I knew it I was in the starting XI for the World Cup side.” Burton’s goals proved crucial in sending the unheralded Reggae Boyz to the World Cup finals for the first time scoring in each of his first four matches. He hit the winning goals in qualifying matches against vastly more experienced teams in Costa Rica and Canada and then grabbed the equaliser as Jamaica held the United States to a draw.

Now Burton, along with Hall, Simpson and Wimbledon’s Robbie Earle, is a national hero in the land of his forefathers. He was even named Jamaican Sports Personality of the Year. “The called us the Fab Four,” said Burton. “But the rest of the team play to a good standard, too, all good enough to play in England.”

Coach Rene Simoes has since called up more English professionals, including Chelsea’s Frank Sinclair, Wimbledon’s Marcus Gayle and Burton’s Derby teammate Darryl Powell, so the 21-year-old striker feels very much at home in the Jamaican squad.

“I’m playing for a top Premiership side and heading for the World Cup finals,” he said. “It’s so unbelievable I can’t stop thinking about it.”