FORMER local sportsman Des Smith has been named the top amateur soccer manager across America's southern states.

Des, who was born in Lothersdale, was a martial arts instructor and fought in national tournaments until his job took him around the world, before settling in the United States.

His mother lives in Silsden and he keeps in touch with local news through the Keighley News website. After moving to North Carolina in southern USA he has been importing a little bit of Britain into the country by helping to introduce local people to his love of soccer.

"Football has experienced a huge expansion over the last 10 years, especially in the State of North Carolina, and USA were recently ranked as high as seventh in FIFA's world rankings," Des said.

After studying at Leeds Polytechnic from 1987-91 he started working for GKN with placements in Birmingham, Germany, Malaysia and Leeds before heading to America.

"After I moved to North Carolina with the automotive engineering company, GKN, I became heavily involved in football.

"I built up a network of good players and coaches here, and wanted to form my own team to compete and achieve success at the highest level in men's amateur soccer in this area," he said.

After playing with local clubs he founded the Rhinos Men's Soccer Club in 2002 and led them to several regional tournament victories.

In their first three years the team has won several tournaments in the south east USA and has the best overall record in the local Triangle Adult Soccer league, including two league titles.

As well as being club founder, Des is also captain and is the club's all-time top scorer from his attacking midfield role. He also plays with the club's successful indoor soccer teams, competing in the men's and mixed sex categories.

The success of the club saw him win the manager/coach award for North Carolina and he has just been presented with the award for the whole of the south-east region of the USA, an area covering 14 states ranging from Texas in the west to Florida and Virgina in the east.

Des lives in Hillsborough, NC, with his girlfriend, but he does miss several things about the UK, including going to watch a good old British 'football' game.

But despite his coaching success in the amateur game Sir Alex Ferguson need not fear for his job at Old Trafford.

"My job as senior program manager at GKN means I have no plans to manage at a higher level, but I hope to continue achieving success for the Rhinos, and also resume coaching kids and teenagers," Des said.

n His club has its own website at: www.rhinosoccerclub.com