From Porthmadog to Pakistan

Adam Docker has found the perfect way to escape Porthmadog FC's travails at the foot of the Welsh Premier League - playing FIFA World Cup football with Pakistan.

Hero's welcome
The 21-year-old Manchester restauranteur received a call-up for Pakistan's recent meeting with Iraq. It was always going to be a difficult challenge with the Iraqis buoyant after lifting the AFC Asian Cup in July. A 7-0 home defeat in the first leg underlined the gulf in class but the return - in which Docker made his debut having injured himself before the first encounter - ended 0-0 which ensured Pakistan received a hero's welcome on their return home.

Disastrous start
Fan worship is not something Docker, who uses his Pakistani father's name of Karim when he represents his country, has become used to this season at the struggling Y Traeth club where manager Clayton Blackmore, the former Manchester United FC defender, departed after just four months at the Porthmadog helm following a disastrous start to the campaign.

'A step up'
"It's quite a step up from the Welsh league to playing for your country in a World Cup tie but I thought I did OK in the second leg," said Docker, who has also had spells with Bury FC, Altrincham FC and Bangor City FC. "Drawing 0-0 with Iraq was the equivalent of us beating them 7-0 because they are an awesome team, full of one-touch football. I would class them as Premiership standard - they were that good."

British-based players
He was not the complete outsider with other British-based players, Zesh Rehman of Queen's Park Rangers FC, Adnan Ahmed of Tranmere Rovers FC and Amjad Iqbal of Farsley Celtic FC also involved. "There's a great team spirit because the same group of players stay together more or less from 17 right the way through to 35. We are treated really well. Football is obviously not as big as cricket there and hockey is probably the second most popular sport but if we can get a bit of success football could really catch on." Porthmadog could certainly do with some international-standard performances from Docker as they prop up the Premier League table with just three points from eleven games.