Fresh from pitting his wits against the likes of Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray in World Cup qualifying action for the British Virgin Islands against Jamaica, Josh Bertie has committed to Bashley for another season.
The Pitching In Southern League Division One South club ended last term in the lower half of the table having been amongst the leading pack during the first half of the campaign.
They have made changes to their managerial structure over the summer with Dave Lewis moving up to Director of Football and Jack Williamson taking over as manager.
Now the talented Bertie is looking forward to a fruitful season both for club and country.
“Preparations have been tough, but really positive,” he admitted to us. “With Dave stepping up and Jack taking on the role of first team manager, he’s bringing all his knowledge and a slightly different perspective to help get the best out of us this season.
“The team is fully buying into his ideas and expectations, and we’re all excited to see what we can achieve together.
“Our goal as a group is to challenge for the title and also put together a strong run in the Cup competitions to see how far we can go. I’ve always believed in aiming high, and everyone in the squad is fully committed to pushing the club forward in the right direction.
“Last season was a real up-and-down campaign for me personally and the team as a whole. I started off flying in pre-season and felt strong in the first game, but unfortunately I fractured my ankle, which kept me out for the rest of the first half of the season.
“Then it was about getting back to playing, building up my fitness and sharpness and basically starting to enjoy my football again.
“As for the team, we started well then hit a tough patch midway through. Things thankfully picked up towards the end, but it was definitely a learning experience for us all and something that we can build on this time around.
“There were also a lot of changes off the field going into last season with new ownership and management coming in, but I think that this will stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead.”
It’s going to be a big season for Bertie as he looks to make his mark for both on the domestic and international stage.
“Personally, my goals this season are to boost my contributions with more goals and assists, remain a key figure in this Bashley side and consistently showcase my ability on the pitch throughout the season,” he continued. “Playing for my country is also something I’m incredibly proud of; it’s a real privilege to represent the national team on such a big stage, going up against top professional players from different nations.
“I earned my first cap back in 2018 in an international friendly against St. Maarten, where we came away with the win. Since then, I’ve gone on to make 20 appearances for my country, with my most recent cap coming in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica last month, which was a fantastic experience as we ran them close with a single-goal defeat.
“I feel that I have grown massively as a player since being involved in international football. I am able to benefit from different ideas and coaching methods as well as being able to pit my wits against some top players.
“Training every day in 30-degree heat also sharpens me up! I’ve always come back from international duty feeling fitter and more focussed and long may that continue!”
IMAGE: British Virgin Islands FA
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