Adrian Creamer had just been offered the chance of becoming goalkeeper coach for a county who will be competing for a place in the 2018 World Cup. He had little hesitation in accepting the proposition but there was one detail he needed to check. Where exactly is Guam?

“I had to look it up,” the 36-year-old admitted. “I honestly didn’t have a clue where it was. That didn’t mean I wasn’t excited though; it was an opportunity I had to take.”

So a week after receiving a phone call from Guam manager Gary White, who Creamer first met on a UEFA coaching course nine years ago, he was helping the minnows prepare for a friendly match against Hong Kong.

Guam, whose population is less than 200,000, were beaten 1-0 back in March. It was a creditable result. A 2-2 draw with Singapore followed three days later. That was a shock.

Singapore were branded embarrassing by their former player Abbas Saad but Creamer, who is a goalkeeper coach in Watford’s Academy, believes it was a draw which indicates just how far the island country has come.

“Only a few years ago Guam would be losing to sides like Hong Kong and Singapore by double figures,” said the coach from South Oxhey.

“It shows the work that Gary has done with the players. I was so impressed when I first met up with the squad. The level of detail, the preparation and the professionalism is a match with what we do at Watford. That is all down to Gary.

“And as soon as those friendly matches were over Gary asked me to stay on for the World Cup qualification campaign. It was easy to say yes.”

But can the duo realistically help Guam reach the World Cup?

It is an incredibly difficult task given the limited talent on the island. So White looked abroad and, specifically, to the United States.

“The number of people who have a Guam heritage massively outnumbers the number of people in the island,” Creamer, whose 14-year-old son, Caolan, is a member of Watford’s Academy, said.

“Gary has previously worked in the MLS and had knowledge of players who would be able to represent Guam.”

Defender Brandon McDonald has been recruited – he played alongside David Beckham at Los Angeles Galaxy, AJ DeLaGarza is currently on Galaxy’s books and Ryan Guy, previously a midfielder for New England Revolution, and first-choice goalkeeper Doug Herrick, who has represented Seattle Sounders, have also joined the project.

Those additions, combined with a host of young players from across the USA and those from the island, have helped the country move up the FIFA world rankings.

Guam are currently 176th, one place above Swaziland but a spot below New Caledonia.

White’s side begin their attempts to reach the World Cup next month and positive results could catapult them up that list.

Standing in their way, however, are India, Turkmenistan and Iran. Hardly the heavyweights of world football but Guam are expected to finish bottom of their group.

Creamer, who is a lecturer at Stanmore College, is more optimistic. He says a two-top finish and advancement to the next stage of qualifying is possible but appreciates the challenge ahead is daunting.

“It’s only the second time Guam have even attempted to qualify for the World Cup,” Creamer said.

“We know we will be seen as the whipping boys of the group but I believe we have shown in the friendlies that we are capable of getting results – we are an organised side who are hard working.

“There is a belief that we could get that second spot. Of course it will be tough, especially against Iran. They are managed by Carlos Queiroz, who has managed Real Madrid and Portugal. He was also Alex Ferguson’s assistant for many years.

“In this qualification stage we are playing every side home and away and when we go to Iran, there will apparently be 80,000 people in the stadium. That will be a huge test for the players and for the coaching staff.”

Guam have embraced the World Cup spirit and Creamer reveals his good friend Ronan MacManus, the brother of Elvis Costello, has helped write a “World Cup song” for their campaign. The proceeds of which will go to charity.

“It is just another part of what has been a great experience,” said Creamer, who will visit Guam for the first time next month.

“I will bring all the knowledge back with me to Watford and it could give me the platform to move on at some point. It has been an incredible six weeks.”