One of the UK's best-known coaches and one of its toughest defenders in his playing days has joined the slate for the annual Premier League Soccer Camp in Freeport.

Dennis Rofe, who captained current Premier League champions Chelsea in a professional career which spanned 519 games in 14 years, joins another former England international, Luther Blissett to spearhead the EPL team for the week, beginning July 3, 2006.

They, plus Football Association pro coach Tom McCallum and Phillip French, who is making his third successive appearance at the camp, will be helped by around 20 volunteer coaches from Grand Bahama.

The local coaches include Katrina Ellis, a former participant at the camp, whose skills later took her on to a soccer scholarship at a university in South Carolina, where she has just finished her first year playing on the team.

Many U.S. colleges offer soccer scholarships and since it is not a mainstream sport there, international talent scouts look to talented players in other countries to fill their rosters - a very good reason for parents on Grand Bahama to sign their kids up for this summer's camp.

Registrations for the camp at the Freeport Rugby Club, Settlers' Way, are going fast and with attendance pegged at 200, parents who delay registering their kids may miss out.

Rofe has outstanding credentials.

Since giving up playing he has been the full-time manager or first-team coach at four English league clubs - Southampton, Fulham, Bristol Rovers and Stoke City.

While with Southampton - the famous "saints" - he worked with legends like former England international captain Mick Mills and other internationals such as Matt Le Tissier, Mick Channon, James Beattie and Wayne Bridge.

He also coached the club to one of soccer's most famous events, the F.A. Cup Final, in 2003, losing by only an odd goal to Premiership Giants Arsenal.

"This announcement about Dennis Rofe is great news for the camp," said Mark Hardy, well-known Grand Bahama Youth coach, whose Brita Red Bulls lifted the local league championship this year.

"We have had some outstanding people to help in the last two years but he undoubtedly has the most impressive coaching record.

"For years his job was to aid some of the game's most famous professional players to become even better."

Apart from this feat of high level coaching talent, kids taking part in this summer's camp will get two authentic uniforms, T-shirts, baseball caps and lunch everyday, plus fresh fruit each morning and afternoon.

It is open to boys and girls aged six to 17 years.

Registration forms are available at Animale in Port Lucaya, Esquire Men's Wear, downtown and Town and Country on Yellow Pine Street, or by calling Mark Hardy at 357-5403 or Mary Woodside or Donnie Knowles at 373-8705.

Luther Blisset will be back in Grand Bahama for this summer's soccer camp