FORMER National Under-20 player Keithy Simpson has joined Trinidad and Tobago Pro League outfit North East Stars FC on loan from Tivoli Gardens until the end of May.

Simpson, 22, who made his reputation as a defender, but has recently been playing as a midfielder, will be gaining valuable experience at a professional club that previously saw fellow Jamaicans Sean Fraser, Oneke Ford and Kimarley McDonald donning their colours.

Brian Rose, manager of Tivoli Gardens, told the Jamaica Observer the deal is not a financial one, but one which will give the player valuable exposure.

The North East Stars, who currently play in Sangre Grande Regional Complex in Sangre Grande, Trinidad, is coached by Angus Eve and finished last season in seventh spot. After being formed in 2001, they won the championship in 2004

Simpson attended Donald Quarrie and Hydel high schools and played for Cavalier before joining Sporting Central Academy. He then moved on to the youth academy of Canadian team Vancouver Whitecaps for a short stint alongside Fellow Jamaican Dever Orgill in 2009. He returned to Sporting before joining Portmore United in 2011, and later Tivoli Gardens.

Simpson was a member of the Jamaica squad during the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers 2007 in Kingston that just failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals under late coach David Hunt.

He was also part of the same crop of youngsters, this time at the Under-20 level, that needed a draw to advance to the 2009 World Cup, but lost that game to Honduras in Trinidad and Tobago under coach Donovan Duckie.

Simpson later captained Jamaica’s Under-23 side in the CFU Olympic qualifiers in Suriname in a failed bid to reach the 2012 London Olympics.