Swapping Ajax for Altrincham and Feyenoord for Forest Green Rovers would not be every footballer's idea of a great career move.

However Felino Jardim is quite happy to have exchanged the silky football of Holland's Eredivisie for the rough and tumble world of the Blue Square Premier league.

"I've always wanted to play in England, although I didn't know much about this league before I came over," he says. "But it is an interesting league; there are a lot of good teams and everyone can beat everyone else, so it's very competitive."

The 23-year old winger joined United in the summer after a career spent entirely at Dutch top division clubs. Born and brought up in Rotterdam, Felino supported Feyenoord as a youngster, and so was delighted when he was offered a chance to join his boyhood heroes.

"Feyenoord was always my team so it was definitely a dream to sign for them. I always wanted to play in their first team, but unfortunately it didn't happen," he says.

Having joined the club at the age of six, Felino was with De club van het volk (the peoples club) for 14 years, and although he never played in the first team, he believes it gave him a good grounding in the game.

He also highlighted the differences between the youth systems in Holland and the UK: "In Holland it is normal to be training with a team from the age of five or six," he says.

"You use a smaller ball, and do a lot of work with controlling and dribbling, getting used to having the ball at your feet all the time, so it gives you a good technique when you are young."

After he was released by Feyenoord, Felino spent one season with RKC Waalwijk, and appeared four times in the first team, but was on the move again at the end of that season.

He returned to Rotterdam to join Feyenoord's local rivals, Sparta, and although he was on their books for two seasons, he didn't make a first team start.

Reflecting on what he described as an "unhappy time" in his career, Felino says: "I was really unlucky to not get in the team at Sparta, but it was just one of those things that happen in the game."

Although the early stages of his career were not filled with much senior football, Felino made a good impression on the Dutch national side selectors and represented his country over a number of years.

He says: "I played for Holland in every age group from under-12 to under-19. It was a really good experience and I got to play in a lot of different countries, including England."

After spending a couple of months searching for a club in his homeland, Felino set his sights on a move to England: "I hadn't found a team in Holland, so some friends put me in touch with agents in England and that's how my move to Cambridge came about."

The friends Felino refers to are the likes of Arsenal's Robin Van Persie (above), Chelsea's Soloman Kalou, and West Brom defender Gianni Zuiverloon. "We were mates from when we were in the youth teams at Feyenoord together, and we've stayed in touch since then," he reveals.

Felino signed to Route1 management, who also look after the interests of his United team-mates Gavin Hoyte and Ben Farrell. Route1's Dave Thomas is a former director at Bedford Town, and took Felino to the Southern League side on trial, which is where he first came to the attention of United coach Stuart Bimson, who was manager of Bedford at the time.

"It was a good route into England for me," he says. "Stuart Bimson recommended me to the gaffer, and I came and joined Cambridge for pre-season training."

After making his debut as a substitute in the pre-season game at Cambridge City, Felino really caught the eye in the next friendly match, at Soham Town Rangers. Playing with what was very much a second-string line up, he notched two impressive goals, one in each half, to help United to a 4-2 win.

Following this match, Gary Brabin made it clear that he wanted to add Felino to his squad for the season, but talks between the club and his agent broke down and it looked as if his future would be elsewhere.

"I was training with Cambridge for a week, and I think I did quite well and Barnet became interested," he says. "So I went and trained there for a week as well and they wanted to sign me, but didn't have the budget available. So when the chance came to go back to Cambridge I was very pleased."

After signing a one-year contract on the eve of the season, Felino was given his chance in the side following a pre-season injury to Courtney Pitt, and made his debut in the opening game of the season at Northwich Victoria. He marked the occasion with a goal, finishing off a fine move with a well-hit shot from the edge of the area.

"It was a great strike, and gave me confidence after my first game," he smiles.

A key player during our impressive start to the campaign, Felino won plenty of plaudits for his pacy, direct running, and searching crosses.

He notched a second goal for the club in the defeat at Oxford, but since then he has not always been a regular in the starting line up, as Gary Brabin has often opted for a 4-3-3 formation in the continuing absence of senior wingers Pitt and Andy Parkinson.

However, Felino is happy with life at the Trade Recruitment Stadium, although he concedes that it is "very different" to his previous clubs.

"Everything is good at the moment. The gaffer has worked with me a lot, and given me a lot of confidence and the opportunity to play some games," he says.

"We have been playing well, but unfortunately we are not scoring enough at the moment, but now we have Scott Rendell he has made a big difference."

The Dutchman, whose family originally hail from the Cape Verde Islands, is also appreciative of the style of play employed by the management team of Brabin, Bimson, and Paul Carden.

"Everything is always very fast and offensive," he says. "Usually we try to play through the wingers and get the ball wide quickly, which gives me a lot of chances to get on the ball and get crosses into the box. I'm very happy with how the team is set up; it's good for me and the other wingers, Courtney and Robbie [Willmott]."

This interview was conducted in the wake of our 3-2 win over Histon in the FA Trophy, and Felino was delighted that we managed to register a victory over our near neighbours.

"It was a hard match, but they are always hard matches when you play against your local rivals," he says. "The pitch didn't help either, it was an embarrassment to see a pitch like that at this level of football, but the lads did really well."

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, he believes that the result can be a springboard for the second half of the campaign.

"Histon are right up at the top of the league and are one of the strongest sides, so to beat them was a good lift for us.

"If we play like that for the rest of the season we will do well. We can definitely get into the play offs, and after that in football you never know what will happen. I think we can still win the title perhaps; it's a long season and there are still a lot of games to play."

Today's game is the second match in quick succession during the festive period for the U's, and it comes at a time when Felino would usually be enjoying a few weeks away from the pitch.

"In Holland there is a winter break, so the season stops before Christmas, but here it is football all the time," he says.

Because of the team's busy schedule, he will not have time to go back to Holland to visit his family over Christmas. However, in the New Year he will be joined in England by a friendly face.

"Most of my family are still in Holland, but my girlfriend is coming to live over here with me," he says.

"I had been to England when I was playing with the Dutch team, but she has never been before. She is really looking forward to it - it is an exciting time for us."

U's fans will be hoping their stay in this country is a long and happy one, both on and off the pitch.

Matt Gooding

*This interview was published in the programme for the match against Stevenage Borough on Sunday 28th December, 2008.

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