MICK Rathbone prides himself on his geography, but it was also his knowledge of 1980s music which helped in knowing exactly where Montserrat was.

The former Rovers defender now speaks of the country, which boasts a population of 5,000, with immense pride and passion, and cites their victory over Belize last month as one of his greatest achievements in the game.

A physio by trade, his role working alongside manager Willie Donachie sees him down the touchline, barking out tactical instructions, with his blue gloves and medical bag close at hand.

An underdog story of two Englishmen, who had never previously met, working together in the Caribbean island with a group of semi-professionals on an island of just 5,000 sounds like something for the big screen.

But for Rathbone, who spent eight years at Rovers, it’s a dream being played out based upon sheer graft and determination.

“They are mainly all semi-professional players, all got hearts of lions, all want to do well for the country,” he explained.

“The biggest joy of the whole thing, apart from swimming in the Caribbean, is seeing these lads come together from semi-professional clubs, and giving everything.

“We went into the first game against El Salvador who are an established international side, we got edged out in the 94th minute.

“Then we go and beat Belize, a team full of professionals.

“I’m so lucky, I’ve scored goals - not many - been promoted, worked for England Under-17s when we won the Euros in Malta, the Under-19s in Teblise, Everton when we got to the FA Cup, Champions League, I’ve been so lucky.

“You think it must stop eventually, but the next thing, you’re beating Belize.

“Of all the great times, and I’m so lucky there have been that many, I’ve got to say when that final whistle went, that was up there with anything.

“The calypso drums were going, it was unbelievable.”

Rathbone has just taken up a job at Everton which means his spell with Montserrat will come to an end after March’s match with the Cayman Islands.

But how did the opportunity, given he had never met Donachie before, come about?

“It was a random phone call, as always seems to be the case, from Danny Donachie, Willie’s lad, who was one of my physios at Everton,” he said.

“He asked what I was up to and I’d just left Nottingham Forest after a marvellous 12 months. I said that I would be having a rest after working away from home for a year and he said ‘come and help my dad out’.

“Danny didn’t even know the name of the island. I said that I would absolute love to.

“There’s only me and Willie so I’m kind of assistant manager and physio. He sits up in the stand and I’m in the dugout coaching with my blue medical gloves on.

“It’s been absolutely incredible.”

Rathbone says the experience far outweighs the financial rewards, despite joking he worried his pay may have been in East Caribbean dollars, equivalent to 0.37 US dollars.

But what did he knew of the country before first heading out there?

“I pride myself on my geography, so I knew it was it in the Caribbean and The Police had done an album in the ‘80s (Ghost in the Machine), so I knew roughly whereabouts it was.”

Montserrat are currently ranked 202nd in the FIFA world rankings and come up against the likes of the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Bonaire, as well as El Salvador and Belize in their fixture list.

By far and away the smallest island, there are other problems to encounter, with Rathbone explaining: “The island is mountainous, there’s one flat bit and that’s our pitch.”

But he can’t credit the people on the island enough for their welcome.

“They have bent over backwards to facilitate everything,” he said.

“Full credit to the people of Montserrat to have an internationally accredited game.

“We might be the other side of the world, and ranked 202, but everything is done right.

“We only take 14 players but I was overwhelmed by the passion and desire these players have.

“They were saying to me before the El Salvador they fancied getting a result and I’m thinking ‘this could be double figures’ and there they are devastated at getting beat in the last minute.

“We got done 2-1, and then they said ‘we’ll beat Belize’ and there’s me thinking they are all pros, a couple play in Turkey professional, a couple for Oxford, and we beat them.

“The whole thing has been unavailable.”

Rathbone’s journey with Montserrat will soon come to an end, but he feels the country can dare to dream.

And while that might not be competing at a World Cup, there are more realistic goals he feel they can work to.

“For the people of Montserrat to hold a bona fide, FIFA approved, international match, it was absolutely unbelievable,” he said.

“The players were incredible, the passion and desire.

“Realistically for Montserrat, there are 30 teams in the CONCACAF minnows group, and I think it’s reasonable, with the lads that we’ve got, to be one of the better teams in the Caribbean and hold our own.

“If we could do well in this group with Aruba and Antigua, your dream would be to get to the Gold Cup and play USA, Canada and Mexico.

“That would be the limit of the dream.”