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Brian Lara is used to hoisting a bat to the heavens to acknowledge another personal landmark.

This time it was a glass he was raising, and the occasion had nothing to do with cricket or the Caribbean.

Not on the face of it, anyway.

The West Indies batting genius poured himself a large one, then uttered just one word to toast THE sporting achievement of the moment. BARNSLEY!

The South Yorkshire club are proud to count luminaries like Michael Parkinson and Dickie Bird among their support.

Now they can add another name to the list - honorary Tyke Lara. He's been an Oakwell devotee since his close pal, Clint Marcelle, signed for Barnsley last summer.

The pair were both born in Trinidad and they went to America as teenagers.

Sporting stardom always looked a cert for both. Exactly which sport was less clear.

Lara may have made his name as a left-hand bat with a flashing blade that has ripped up the record books at the highest level.

But in those days, he was an all-rounder who could turn his hand - or foot - to anything.

Marcelle, who moved to the States as a ten-year old, recalled their formative years as team-mates at football and cricket, and said: "Brian looked really good with a ball at his feet. He was a forward and had all the attributes - quick, clever and skilful. The thing was, he looked even more of a world- beater with a bat in his hand.

"I wasn't in the same league as him at cricket. Football was my first love, and I was determined to make a career of it.

"We've both come a long way since those early days and have always given each other plenty of encouragement to make the most of our abilities.

"I was thrilled when he broke those world records playing for Warwickshire and the West Indies. I always knew he had it in him to be the very best.

"And he's just as pleased for me now. I consulted him about life in England when Barnsley moved in for me, and he told me to make the most of it."

Barnsley are approaching their 100th year as a League club and looked like a batsman in the nervous 90s as they closed in on promotion against Yorkshire rivals Bradford.

They were desperately clinging on to an increasingly-precarious 1-0 lead when Marcelle banished any fears with a solo second, two minutes from time.

Sprinting was another speciality in his college days, and he once covered 100 metres in an impressive 10.20 seconds.

But even he wasn't quick enough out of the blocks to escape the mayhem that engulfed him when the final whistle sounded a couple of minutes after that promotion-clinching strike. Thousands poured on to the pitch and lifted him shoulder high in a party that had everything except a calypso beat.

Even that could be heard crackling down the line soon after when Marcelle phoned his best mate with the news that Barnsley were in the top flight for the first time in their history.

Now the little 28-year-old front runner can relish coming face to face with his other close sporting pal, Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke.

HE said."We play together for Trinidad, so it will be interesting next season if I'm in the Barnsley side against Villa.

"We have remained firm friends and often go back to Trinidad together on holiday.

"Brian comes along, too, because we have been good mates since I was 12.

"In fact, he was one of the first people I contacted when I knew I was coming to England. I wanted to know all about places to go and things to do, and his advice proved a great help."

Marcelle arrived at Oakwell from Portuguese side Felguieras on the say- so of Bobby Robson.

The former boss of England was in charge of Porto when he spotted Marcelle's eye for goal.

He liked what he saw and took him to one side for a chat that made Clint's day.

"He told me he'd been impressed by me, and that was great in itself, coming from a manager of his stature," he said.

"I then told him that I wanted to play in English football, and he said he'd see what he could do. No promises, but he'd try and sort something out for me.

"Next thing I knew, he'd spoken to Danny Wilson. Mr Robson had recommended me, and Danny was suddenly very keen to take me to Barnsley.

"I'll always remember what he did for me, and I was determined to make the most of the chance.

"I scored on my debut in the opening match of the season at West Brom, and really I haven't looked back since.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my first season over here, and it has not been that much of a culture shock, you know.

"My favourite meal is pasta with a glass of white wine, and you can get that in Barnsley.

"And I used to read The Mirror when I lived in Portugal, because I wanted to keep track of the English game.

"So it hasn't been too difficult settling in. The main difference between Portugal and England has been on the pitch, where I've found the marking and tackling so much keener over here.

"But I've adapted, and now I'm just delighted that I've been able to play a part in helping Barnsley reach the Premiership.

"I won promotion three times in Portugal with different clubs, but there was nothing to match this feeling."