Cougars Town

The other night I was driving home from work when a ramshackle parade of open sided trucks and vans followed by a couple of cars drove past me decked in the colours of green and yellow. It was I soon realised thanks to three shiny trophies being shook by it’s passengers Bermuda’s equivalent of an open-top parade.

The Devonshire Cougars last weekend defeated Somerset Eagles 3-0 to collect the Bermuda FA Cup, the third and final piece of silverware available to Bermuda’s football teams and now all owned by the Cougars after they completed the treble of League, Friendship Trophy and the FA Cup.

Earlier in the local football season I offered my support to surprise early front-runners Flanagan Onions, who ended up just missing relegation by the skin of their teeth losing their last 5 games including one 9-0 humilation to PHC Zebras. Fortunately the points the Onions racked up in the first few games (3 wins and a draw in first 4 games) gave the ‘pub’ side enough breathing space and it meant that another pub sponsored team Robin Hood were relegated alongside St Georges Colts.

The Devonshire Cougars wrapped the league title up a while back and finished 8 points ahead of PHC Zebras. The Friendship Trophy was the Cougars first trophy after they beat Dandy Town on penalties.

Cougars 18-goal top scorer Chae Brangman caught the eye and has just returned from a week’s trial with Stoke City where fellow Bermudian Dale Eve, who is a goalkeeper, is already on the books.

Crawley Town’s young Bermudian prospect Jonte Smith is helping my parent’s local side Eastbourne Borough’s efforts against relegation from the Conference South after signing on loan until the end of the season.

Finally Evo-Stick Premier League Ilkerston Town have signed a partnership arrangement with Bermudian semi-pro team Bermuda Hogges.