FALL FROM GREAT HOYTE
One-time England World Cup tip Gavin Hoyte on life at Gillingham
TWO days before his 24th birthday in June, Gavin Hoyte made his Trinidad & Tobago debut against Argentina.
However, representing his father’s homeland in a 75,000capacity stadium in Buenos Aires against a team led by Lionel Messi seemed somewhat of a fall from grace.
Seven years ago a national newspaper touted Hoyte as a likely starter for England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Hoyte was then on the fringes of the Arsenal first team and had been capped by England at U17 level.
Now he has only just secured his short-term future with a five-month contract offer from League One Gillingham.
The graphic above, originally produced in the Daily Mail, was circulated several times on
twitter this summer and includes the likes of Robbie Threlfall – released by Morecambe in the summer.
But Hoyte can see the lighter side.
“A few people sent me the picture and I laugh about it,” said London-born Hoyte.“I’m not the only one who didn’t make it to Brazil.
“I’m happy to be in that team. Not everybody was so I must have been doing something right, things just didn’t work out.
“My dad was born in Trinidad and the chance came up to play for them. Just to be there, to watch Argentina play, their movement, their passing, was an education.
“I got on for the last 20 minutes and even in that time you can appreciate how hard they work, how comfortable they are on the ball and their move- ment. It was such a great experience.”
Hoyte’s immediate motivation is not further nternational caps, but securing a permanent club. After catching the eye with a fine season at Dagenham & Redbridge, Hoyte chose not to sign their renewed contract offer.
However, trials at Port Vale and Southend proved unsuccessful before he signed for the Gills on August 19.
“I wasn’t worried about my future, I just had to keep myself positive,” he added.
“Gillingham invited me down for a week or so and I took the opportunity.”