WHEN approaching the twilight of your semi-pro football career, the last thing you would expect is an international call-up, writes NEAL HARRINGTON.

But that is exactly what happened to Colchester-based Ryan Charles, who is now an international for the Caribbean island paradise of St Lucia.

Rangy wing wizard Ryan, 29, was called up for two internationals against St Martin this month in the Concacaf Nations League B Group B.

Bishop's Stortford forward Ryan, nicknamed Spider, started both matches at St Lucia's Daren Sammy Cricket Ground as a 2-1 win was followed by a 4-0 defeat.

Walthamstow-born Ryan, who lives at Prettygate, qualifies through the grandfather on his mother's side being born in St Lucia.

He said: "It's been an amazing experience. I've been too excited to be nervous. The family are proud of me."

Ryan relished the five-star luxury experience. "It's the best I have eaten probably ever! I wasn't expected to start the matches.

"The intensity is the main thing - it can be at 100mph. The warm-ups are ten times harder in intensity. A lot of tactics are involved. It's more of a state of mind, you think in a different way. "

It was a chance for Ryan to catch up with Carlisle defender Terell Thomas, the St Lucia captain. They were members of the same Arsenal under-sevens squad.

Despite the mixed results, St Lucis lead their group by two points from Curacao.

They will be hoping to secure promotion to League A with matches against Curacao and Grenada in mid-November. Promotion would also seal their place in the Gold Cup for the first time in the nation's history.

"Hopefully I can be part of St Lucia history," added Ryan, who is closing in on 200 appearances for the Blues with 40 goals to his name.

His Spider nickname stems from Colchester United legend Steve Foley, who used to coach Ryan in Suffolk.

Ryan added: "He said with my long legs and arms, when I moved it was like a spider. The nickname just stuck."

Ryan, who has played for both Witham and Maldon and Tiptree, was also in the Concord Rangers side that lost 1-0 to Harrogate in the Covid-delayed 2019-20 FA Trophy final, at Wembley Stadium.