HMS Monmouth’s football team can proudly claim to be at least the 370th best in the world.

That’s because the team representing the Devonport-based frigate beat a national team ranked 371st by the world football governing body, FIFA.

The match was staged while the frigate called in at Montserrat, the Caribbean island devastated by a series of volcanic eruptions since 1995.

A volunteer party from Monmouth went ashore when the ship called in at the island during the latest stage her patrol of the region.

The volcanic explosions had left much of the island abandoned, including its capital Plymouth, and it is unlikely islanders will return to the southern half of Montserrat for another decade.

But life goes on in the north, despite the disruption caused. A massive aid programme supported by the Red Cross, is replacing the roofs of homes ruined by ash during a huge eruption in 2000.

Crew members helped with the roofing, and also rebuilt the kitchen wall of Francis, an 80-year-old woman whose home was one of hundreds badly damaged during eruptions four years ago which dumped several million tonnes of ash and lava on to buildings.

In the historic football fixture, Monmouth’s crew took on and beat Montserrat’s ‘international’ side – appropriately named the Volcanoes – 4-3.

FIFA ranks the island side at number 371 in the world – world champions Brazil are still at the top of the pile – but nevertheless the sailors were delighted to have a rare international scalp to their name, especially as matches on deployment are few and far between.

“It was a great game played in high spirits,” said team captain STD Gavin Rees, who plays regularly in the Welsh League when commitments allow.

“It was a long match played in the heat – a lot different from playing in the Welsh League back home.

“We achieved one of the best results of the deployment. Beating a team in the FIFA rankings was a bonus.”

Pictures by LA(PHOT) Wheelie Barrow