GAVIN HOYTE has a grandfather who lives in San Fernando.
He was once a member of Arsenal’s youth team and after his elder brother, defender Justin Hoyte, became a full international for Trinidad and Tobago a year ago, it seemed a natural progression that he do so as well.
Due to ancestral links, Gavin is eligible to play for T&T and has been called up by senior men’s national head coach Stephen Hart for international friendlies against World Cup-bound Argentina in Buenos Aires tomorrow and Iran on June 8 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Born in Leytonstone, London, 23-year-old Gavin has a heavy English accent. Already a father of two, he is son of former British sprinter Wendy Hoyte, the 1982 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner who missed the 1984 Olympics through pregnancy, and T&T-born British sprinter Les Hoyte.
Gavin was a defender with the England squad at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and played in all five of England’s matches in the tournament, coming on as a substitute three times and starting the games against Brazil and Germany.
His current T&T teammates Marcus Joseph, Kevin Molino and Sheldon Bateau represented the twin-island republic at that same tournament in South Korea.
A product of the Arsenal academy, Hoyte signed with the English Premiership club at age nine, was captain of Arsenal’s U-18 team and signed a senior contract which kept him at the club until 2012.
But Gavin had few Premier League appearances for Arsenal, for whom he debuted in 2008, playing for 60 minutes before current star Aaron Ramsey replaced him. He also played League Cup matches against Sheffield United and Wigan.
“I was at Arsenal from the age of nine till 21 when I got released,” he said of his still early career, which has also seen him going on loan to Watford City, Brighton, Lincoln City and Wimbledon, before his release from Arsenal as a free agent two years ago.
He then signed a deal with League Two club Dagenham and Redbridge, which is near its end.
“I’m delighted to be here,” Hoyte exclaimed, not hiding his enthusiasm on joining the Trinidad and Tobago squad. “It’s a big step up to an international side. It’s a big thing for me.”
Gavin’s career mirrors that of 29-year-old brother Justin, who also played internationally for England from under-16 up to under 21 level.
Justin also began at age nine for Arsenal where he made 34 appearances at various (senior) levels, but was still down the pecking order behind Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboe and French internationals Gaël Clichy and Bacary Sagna at various times.
Justin became a Trinidad and Tobago international last year, seven years after turning down an initial offer to join T&T’s 2006 World Cup team.
Gavin said that while his brother joining the Soca Warriors was influential, he made his own choice once invited by coach Hart.
“At the end of the day I had to make my own decision,” he said. “My father was born here.”
Gavin has so far forged a relationship with roommate and England-born midfielder Andre Boucaud. And Central FC striker Willis Plaza has also taken him out to eat some “doubles”.
He is simply happy to be here and hopes to make playing for T&T a solid future position.
“My long-term goal is to play every game I can,” the younger Hoyte said. “Everyone has made me feel comfortable.”