Hislop, Edwards on All-Star teams

LONDON: Trinidadians Shaka Hislop and Carlos Edwards, and Jamaican Paul Hall have forged their way into 2003 English league All-Star selections after outstanding seasons with their clubs.

Hislop, of Portsmouth, gets the goalkeeping position in the First Division, while Wrexham’s Edwards, and Hall, of Rushden and Diamonds, make the eleven for the Third Division All-Stars. Portsmouth are the First Division champions with an unassailable 95 points and Hislop, who joined the club from West Ham, had an excellent season in helping the club — and himself — back to Premier League football. Nottingham Forest’s David Johnson, who turned down an approach to play international football for Jamaica, and Paul Dickov of Leicester are the strikers named for the team. No Caribbean players made the Division Two All-Stars, but Edwards and Hall were irresistible for Division Three picks.

Over-lapping right side defender Edwards has scored seven goals so far this season in helping Wrexham into the play-off zone, while Hall’s prolific scoring form has helped fuel Rushden and  Diamond’s table-topping status. Heading into the final match of the season, Rushden and Diamonds lead the standings with 86 points, two ahead of Hartlepool (84) with Wrexham third on 78 points. Hall has 15 league goals and his Jamaica international team-mate Onandi Lowe has 16, to be the Diamonds’ most prolific scorers this season. Edwards’ Wrexham team-mate Andy Morrell, who has more than 30 goals this season, and Hall’s R&D colleague Paul Underwood, also made the Division Three All-Star list.