POP sensation Maxi Priest made a surprise turnout for Southall FC on Saturday, after the Seagrave Haulage League outfit struggled to field a squad because of injuries and suspensions.

The 43-year old music icon, famous for chart topping hits like Just A Bit Longer and Close To You, came on as a second-half substitute to team up with his son Marvin in the Halls' 3-0 home defeat to Feltham.

Priest, whose real name is Max Elliott, was given an unexpected SOS call-up by manager Frank Gill after a number of first team regulars were absent from duty.

It was just like old times for Gill, because he and Priest used to kick a ball around in their home town of Lewisham where both grew up together.

The dreadlocked Jamaican-born reggae artist, who spends most of his time jetting back and forth between London and New York, went back more than 25 years to put on a pair of football boots to grace the turf at Mill Meadow, home of Chalfont St Peter.

Yet having toured for two decades, and playing to constant packed arenas all over the world, Priest's homecoming, for once, failed to capture the usual excitement, but demonstrated that his teenage sporting abilities are still very much in tact.

SHL President and Registration Secretary Ron Monkley said: "Southall faxed through the details to me on the Friday so he was eligible to play on the Saturday.

"However, there are so many registrations to deal with, I didn't realise who it was at first".

It's not the first time the West London outfit have silenced the critics with big name signings.

Two-and-a-half years ago, the club scooped the services of ex-Spurs and England footballer Terry Fenwick to the then position of Director of Football. But Fenwick departed six-months later, after landing a coaching position with the Trinidad and Tobago national squad.

Southall's next match is away to Chessington United on Saturday, where the legendary singer may again be on hand to voice his opinions from the dugout.

March 12, 2003 18:00