From Willenhall to the World Cup?

Truly, all the world is there to be found in grassroots football.

You find everyone from beekeepers to high-ranking policemen, male strippers to estate agents and – bearing in mind many players have played youth football for professional clubs – there are generally plenty of tales to be heard about players taking on the likes of a pre-fame Wayne Rooney.

Everywhere, there are remarkable stories about remarkable people who have done remarkable things.

But there aren't many more remarkable stories around than the story of the footballer in the West Midlands Regional League who is about to fly out to begin his World Cup dream in the Caribbean.

Meet Tesfa Robinson, centre half for Willenhall-based league leaders Sporting Khalsa.

By day Tes works with young offenders in Birmingham, mentoring youngsters who have turned to crime and seeking to put them on the straight and narrow, often using sport as a way to encourage discipline and respect.

But next month he will fly out to sun-kissed St Kitts and Nevis, the smallest sovereign state in the Americas who are ranked 119 in the world as they begin a 33-month qualification campaign that leads to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

While England's national team are still fighting for a place at next year's European Championships, and with the last World Cup in Brazil still fresh in their memories, it's strange to think that for the 14 lowest ranked teams in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Russia 2018 is about to get underway.

It's fair to say that the West Midlands' league isn't normally the sort of place you expect to find current full international players plying their trade, and Khalsa's Aspray Arena is a long way, both literally and figuratively, from the 15,000 Haitians the 29-year-old Villa fan played in front of last year in a Caribbean Cup match.

Tesfa Robinson said: "The whole things came about two years ago, through Lincoln Moses who was in contact with the St Kitts & Nevis FA at the time, as well as working in grassroots football in the West Midlands.

"I have Kittitian roots from my parents, and I have a dual-passport now, although until I first went over and played I hadn't even been there!

"We had an up-and-down campaign in the Caribbean Cup but every time I go, the standard moves on and we've risen 20 places in the FIFA rankings."

Tes has played nine times for his country already and is hoping to add even more caps to his growing collection.

Football certainly runs in the family: Tes' mother enjoyed a 20-year career playing for Aston Villa Ladies.

He said: "The World Cup qualification process is a complicated one for the smaller countries, but we fancy our chances in the first round.

"A few of the players are based in the UK, including Romaine Sawyers at Walsall, and there are some playing in MLS and the Trinidad Soccer League, as well as the local league in St Kitts, so we have a good collection of players and the spirit is good."

Tes is well known in local non-league circles, having turned out for Chasetown, Halesowen, Redditch, and a number of other sides in the area before signing for Khalsa in January.

He said: "It's definitely one of the best clubs I've been to – it's like a big family.

"Everyone has been brilliant since I arrived and I see a big future for myself here at the club."

So, next time you take in a non-league match in the Black Country or Staffordshire, just think – the player who has caught your eye might have a story to tell that might just surprise you.

You can follow Tes Robinson on Twitter at @tesfa1985, Sporting Khalsa at @sportingkhalsa and Mat Danks at @matdanks666.