FORMER England international Mike Duxbury and Bradford City clubmate Gary Williams gave Hong Kong First Division debutants Golden a new air of confidence as they arrived in the territory yesterday.
Former Manchester United full-back Duxbury, a two-time FA Cup medal and league championship winner, is probably the best known foreign player to join the Hong Kong league along with former Aston Villa defender Williams, who won a European Cup medal with the Midlands club.
Golden's player/coach, Carlton Fairweather said: ''Both Williams and Duxbury have had experience at Premiership and First Division level so that should be a great asset to our side. Hopefully some of the younger players in the team will learn from them.'' The pair were the toast of an extravagant luncheon at a leading Tsim Sha Tsui hotel just hours after touching down at Kai Tai airport.
Both Duxbury and Williams were among eight players released by Bradford City under the new regime of chairman Jeffrey Richards and manager Lenny Lawrence.
''I give myself two more years. Most probably I will retire at 36 and then do some coaching,'' said Duxbury who played an exhibition match in the territory against a Hong Kong XI with Manchester United in 1983.
Duxbury spent 14 seasons with the Red Devils where he made 10 international appearances for England before joining Blackburn Rovers in 1990. He last played for England in a World Cup qualifying match against Romania which England won 1-0 in 1985.
