CHIPPENHAM Town’s Luke Gullick can’t wait to embark on a Caribbean adventure after earning a six-month contract with a pro club in Trinidad.
The 24-year-old spent a month on trial with San Juan Jabloteh in September 2009 and will fly out on June 24 to link back up with the four-time TT Pro League champions.
Gullick, who has spent four seasons at Hardenhuish Park, is thrilled at the prospect of having a crack at full-time football and revealed that he could have stayed in the country of his mother’s birth two years ago.
“They wanted me to stay longer back then but I was still at Uni and I wanted to get that finished first,” said the versatile midfielder, who has just finished studying Sports Education at the University of Gloucestershire.
“All of the players have been messaging me on Facebook since then to ask when I’d be coming back and I’m just looking forward to it now.
“I’m going for six months to see how it goes but hopefully it works out and can help me as a player.
“It’s a good standard over there and I’d say its probably even the same level as the Championship or League One in England.
“Last time, I got to play in the centre of midfield against Russell Latapy (ex-Trinidad and Tobago manager) in one of the games and I just missed out on the CONCACAF Champions League, where they played against DC United, because of my international clearance.
“It would be great if I could end up playing against a team like LA Galaxy this time.
“National team trials are in July too so maybe I’ll have a chance to get in there too.”
Gullick also says that he has no qualms about living abroad.
“It’ll be my seventh visit there and I’m going to stay with my cousins, who live about 30 minutes away from the club,’’ he said.
“Last time, they took me around to places and one of them would work half-days and then go down to the beach with me – I’m really grateful for everything they’re going to be doing for me.
“My girlfriend is also coming over to spend the whole of August with me and after that, I’ll just be playing and training full-time.”
Gullick joined the Bluebirds in July 2007 from Swindon Supermarine and also played locally for Calne Town and Biddestone.
The San Juan new boy, who was at Southampton as an academy player, is hoping to cement a career as a pro but hasn’t ruled out a return to Adie Mings’ Chippenham.
“I chatted to Mingsy a lot about it and everyone at the club, like the directors and the players, have been really happy for me,” he said.
“I want to try and play at an even higher level but I know that if I do come back, Mingsy wouldn’t say no to me.”
Bluebirds chief Mings added: “We wish Luke all the best because it’s a fantastic opportunity for him.”