It is the dream of many young footballers to play for their country.

But the reality is that such ambition only takes them as far as their local leagues.

That was the case for Dave Bright who regularly turned out on Saturdays for fixtures across Kent in front of a few hundred supporters.

He played for Sittingbourne FC and then Faversham FC before joining Ramsgate FC.

And there his career could have ended in Kent – but for a life-changing decision to emigrate to New Zealand.

Because he continued playing football in Auckland where his talents saw him snapped up by a leading club and then get a call to join the national squad.

“It was a dream come true, and I say to people now that New Zealand gave me what England couldn’t,” said the 75-year-old who was back in Kent visiting old team-mates and family and friends last week.

In fact, of the then 22-man New Zealand squad, known as the All Whites, 11 members were born in the UK. They included the captain Steve Summer and striker Steve Woodon, who had both played club football in England before emigrating.

Within a few months Dave was running out into packed stadiums for New Zealand across Asia, beating Australia along the way, as the team qualified for the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain.

And it culminated when the team fought its way to the group stages finding themselves up against the mighty Brazil and its superstars, including Zico, Socrates and Juninho, as well as Scotland and Russia.

Dave has been telling the story of his remarkable footballing life to Kent Online.

He grew up in Chartham with his brother Richard and began playing for the Chilham Youth team.

“I was hell bent on wanting to be a professional footballer and that’s where my real focus was….”

He became a panel beater by trade for Barretts, his mother persuading him that he needed a ‘proper’ job.

But his soccer talent developed and made him sought after by Kent clubs where he caught the eye of managers.

“I was hell bent on wanting to be a professional footballer and that’s where my real focus was,” he said.

“I was determined just to be the best player I could and was delighted to get my first contract at Sittingbourne.

“I have to give credit to the manager Tommy Coulter who had a way of getting the best out of me. He would do it by winding me up on the field and I hated him sometimes But he was very shrewd I later realised why he was doing it.

“I was with him at Sittingbourne and he persuaded me to come with him to Faversham which was a good move for me and we won the Kent Amateur Cup.

“Then, when he moved to Ramsgate, he engineered it for me to join him there.”

But Dave, who played both in midfield and defence, says that after a few successful seasons at Ramsgate his contract came to an end, which is when he decided on a life changing move.

“I had become a bit disillusioned having realised that I was never going to make the top flight of the game here in England and an opportunity came up to go to New Zealand,” he said.

“I had family there and there was also the chance to play club football, which would actually help my visa process.”

He began playing for Courier Rangers in Auckland but later switched to Manurewa, playing in the regional league, after its manager, John Adshead spotted his ability.

“He said he had a bunch of young players but needed an older, more experienced head,” said Dave.

“In the first season we won everything and even New Zealand’s equivalent of the FA Cup, which was a giant-killing performance because we were the minnows in the competition.”

As a result of the team’s success, manager Adshead was invited to join the national side and soon picked Dave to join the squad.

Sadly Dave remained on the subs bench for the group matches, even when New Zealand were destined to go out with a game remaining.

But he says he is not bitter that he did not get a chance to play on the biggest stage against Brazil, who beat them 4-0.

“It was just how things were back then,” he said. “Nowadays, a coach would have probably put on a few subs at some later stage to give the players the buzz and experience.

“But I was just grateful to be there and soak up the atmosphere. It was more than I could have dreamed of.”

Dave continued to coach after his World Cup adventure but then gave up the game, in his late 30s.

“I could have played in lower leagues, but I just didn’t want that. It was time to hang up my boots.

“But what the international team did was lift the profile of football massively in New Zealand where rugby is the national passion, of course, and I will always be proud of being a part of that.

“It was great to see some of my old team mates again...”

“It was the start of the country gaining international respect as a footballing nation which has grown in strength ever since.”

Dave’s son Kris also became a pro footballer in New Zealand and went on to play for his country.

Returning to Kent with his partner Fiona gave Dave the chance to catch up with old friends and team-mates, including those he played with at Faversham.

And last weekend, he was given a warm reception at the Salter’s Lane ground where manager Garry Smart presented him with a Faversham FC shirt.

The club also ran a feature in the match programme, entitled ‘One of Our Own’.

“It was great to see some of my old team mates again and reminisce about our footballing times,” he said.

Dave will shortly be heading home to New Zealand where he still works as a vehicle insurance assessor.

He remains a Manchester Utd fan but says he is now a New Zealander through and through.

“I’m extremely proud of what I achieved there and the life it has given me,” he said.