THERE are some rather unflattering stereotypes about Britain and its people.

There are the references to bad teeth, terrible food, nails-on-a-chalkboard accents and perhaps most unfairly of all, the plodding long-ball football that reputedly is the trademark of the English lower leagues.

Personally, I have never been a believer in all the bad things said about the British. In fact, there are many things about the land of my ancestral roots that I just adore. The Sex Pistols, Oscar Wilde, the BBC and cheese-wheel races are just a small sample of what I love about that wonderful and wacky country.

They also produce some pretty decent footballers. Hence, it was with great joy that I heard the news that Charlie Miller was announced as the very first recipient of the A-League Foreign Player of the Year Award on Monday night.

I'm sure at season's start that most of you would have bet the sheep station on some flashy, samba-style South American taking the honour. Instead, it was tough as nails Scotsman that was the stand out among the A-League's foreign contingent. It was perhaps all the sweeter because of the criticism levelled at his signing before the season began.

The naysayers claimed that Miller was overweight and they said he was over the hill. I must admit it was with some trepidation that I watched him enter the field against Palmeiras way back in July last year. In barely 20 minutes on the pitch though he suggested that he could be a superstar in the A-League. Throughout the course of the season he managed to prove his superstar quality beyond a shadow of a doubt.

His performances have led me to wonder what other players from the British Isles could make an indelible mark upon the A-League if given a chance. Brits are moving to Australia in record numbers as they recognise that our weather and lifestyle is generally preferable to that in the Isles. And if engineers, accountants, advertising executives and miners feel that Australia is the place for them, then why can't the same apply to professional footballers?

Clubs wouldn't have to break the bank to sign some rather talented players from the British lower leagues either. While the football community is abuzz following North Queensland's signing of Robbie Fowler, not every player would be commanding his sort of wages. Charlie Miller is proof of that.

To proffer a name to support my argument I suggest Michael Ricketts as just the sort of player that could fit in the salary cap and make a meaningful contribution on the pitch. The man has played for Bolton, Middlesbrough and Leeds United but now mysteriously languishes in League One, plugging away for lowly Walsall.

At 30 thirty years of age, he still has quite a few seasons left in him. He is a proven goal scorer and is playing in a league that is well beneath his already proven abilities. It is this type of player that should be targeted by A-League clubs, but preferably by my own Queensland Roar. A new challenge, a new environment and a genuine chance to win trophies can be quite an incentive to players at similar stages of their careers.

With some prudent scouting and hardball contract negotiations it is possible that a team could field five foreign players of outstanding, Charlie Miller-esque quality within the confines of the salary cap for version five of the A-League. To bastardise one of the Queensland Roar's chants, it is entirely possible to have nearly half a team of Charlie Millers.