THREE players from local clubs are playing for their country - and finding considerable success.Jamie Sandilands from Stowmarket Town, Kevin Holland, the Debenham goalkeeper and Ian Watson of Grundisburgh work for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

By Elvin King

THREE players from local clubs are playing for their country - and finding considerable success.

Jamie Sandilands from Stowmarket Town, Kevin Holland, the Debenham goalkeeper and Ian Watson of Grundisburgh work for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

And they have made the national Revenue and Customs team, and already gone beyond two rounds in the Lewis Cup where they meet sides from other Civil Service departments including the Army or Marines.

Playing on their home pitch in Liverpool, Revenue and Customs beat HASSRA 3-1 with Sandilands scoring twice and Holland making an inspiring debut.

Round two saw them come up against a National Tax Credit team. Captain Watson was unavailable but Sandilands scored and Holland had another good game in a convincing 5-1 victory.

The national team is comprised of players from the Merseyside area, others from Grimsby and Dover. Two members play in the League of Wales and one has Champions League qualifying round experience with Barry Town.

The intrepid Suffolk trio also play representative football for Suffolk and North Essex and one that covers the Eastern Counties - and they have done so for the last two years.

Suffolk have won the area cup for the last three years walloping Norfolk 9-0 in last season's final with Sandilands scoring five times and Holland making valuable saves. Also in that team were Tom Allnutt from Stowupland and Mark Arnold from Long Melford.

With Watson captain, the regional side reached the quarter-finals of the regional cup last year before losing in Edinburgh. The previous season they lost to Midlands in the semi-finals.