Dwight Yorke (C)
Position: Forward/Midfield
Club: Sydney FC (A League) [6 goals in ? appearances this season]
Age: 34
International: 55 appearances; 23 goals
One of the old guard for Trinidad and Tobago, Yorke was a member of the Strike Squad, which came within a game of qualifying for the World Cup in 1989. Yorke has represented Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City in the English Premiership. The high point of his career was his time at Man U, when he scored 65 goals in 150 appearances, forming a superb strike duo with Andy Cole. He won the Carling Player of the Year award in his first season with the club. During his time there, he also hooked up with "supermodel" Katie Price (Jordan). He retired from T&T football in 2001, but returned for the World Cup qualifying campaign, assuming the captain's armband. He is currently the highest profile player to sign a full-time A-League contract.
Dwight Yorke brings a necessary level of intelligence, maturity and experience to the team. His ability to play a midfield role at this stage in his career is a big asset to the team, as he is capable of setting up excellent goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates, as well as netting the ball himself.
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Russell Latapy
Position: Midfield [and Falkirk's First Team Coach]
Club: Falkirk (Scottish Premier League) [1 goal in 24 appearances this season]
Age: 37
International: 30 appearances; 6 goals [stats since 2000; has made over 100 appearances in total]
The oldest player on the team and one of the most respected sportsmen (in terms of onfield accomplishments) in the region. He has played for FC Porto, Academica, Boavista, Hibernian, Glasgow Rangers and Dundee United. His time in the Scottish Premier League has been quite successful, and he was named the league's Payer of the Year in 1999 and again last season. He has been named the T&T footballer of the year on 4 occasions (1983, '85, '89,'96). He retired alongside Yorke in 2001, but also decided to return to service amidst World Cup qualifying with him.
A controlled yet dynamic presence in the midfield, Latapy conducts himself calmly whilst displaying a keen grasp of the game situation. He is the glue of the midfield.
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Dennis Lawrence
Position: Defence [and Falkirk's First Team Coach]
Club: Wrexham (English League Two) [1 goal in 23 appearances this season]
Age: 32
International: 69 appearances; 6 goals [stats since 2000]
Signed with Wrexham in 2001, Lawrence won the Wrexham Player of the Year award for the 2003/04 season. At 6 feet 6 inches, Lawrence adds height to the T&T attack during set pieces, and is a valuable player in terms of aerial play. His solid defence makes him crucial to the back line, and he has formed a well-respected defence partnership with Marvin Andrews.
Lawrence scored the lone goal in T&T's 1-0 win over Bahrain (headed in from a Yorke corner), making him the most important goalscorer in the country's history... for now.
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Marvin Andrews
Position: Defence
Club: Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League) [1 goal in 22 appearances this season]
Age: 31
International: 79 appearances; 7 goals [stats since 2000; over 100 appearances in total]
Marvin Andrews is the rock of the defence, as epitomized by his crucial clearance in Bahrain last year. After goalkeeper Kelvin Jack misread a lobbed shot and left the ball bouncing toward a wide open goal, Andrews stepped up in the crunch and headed the ball over the bar at the very last moment. The save helped T&T qualify with a 1-0 victory. While playing for Raith Rovers in Scotland, Andrews won the team's Player of the Year award in 1999/00 season, and moved to receive Livingston's version of the award in 2003/04. Andrews signed with Rangers in 2004, won the SPL with them, and was named the club's Player of the Year.
He is composed at all times and adds strong aerial play to the T&T formula.
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Christopher Birchall
Position: Midfield
Club: Port Vale (English League One) [2 goals in 13 appearances this season]
Age: 21
International: 15 appearances; 2 goals
The first white player to represent Trinidad and Tobago in 60 years. Birchall was born in England, but is eligible to represent T&T through his mother (born in Port-of-Spain). As such, he has picked up the nickname "me mum" by some local supporters. His finest moment in T&T colours came against Bahrain, when he equalized (1-1) in the home leg of the World Cup playoff with a 77th minute bullet from outside the penalty area. The tied scoreline meant that T&T's 1-0 victory in Bahrain was sufficient to advance to Germany.
Birchall is quick, intelligent and adds great energy to the midfield. He is a brave and very dedicated player.
