CELVIN Kalinga pitched up at Swindon Town training at Liddington and asked for a trial. Less than two weeks later he scored the Robins' first goal of pre-season.

Kalinga netted the opener in a 2-0 win at Yate Town yesterday, but his route into the Swindon side was nothing but unconventional.

Town manager Cooper explained how Kalinga came to be involved in his side, having been initially listed as ‘A Trialist’ when he entered the field of play.

“We were training on the first Friday back and I stepped off the pitch for a little bit and I got a tap on the shoulder and there was a kid stood behind me,” he said.

“He asked if he could have a trial and said he had been playing in Belgium last season, so for the sheer gall of it we said he could train with us and he did alright.

“He’s told me he played for Royal Antwerp last year, which is pretty good, and I thought he did okay.”