Hogges start campaign on home turf
Bermuda Hogges kick-off the upcoming Premier Development League (PDL season) with a trio of home games at BAA Field.Up first will be a match against Reading United who Hogges drew with in last season’s opener on May 27th, followed by a visit from New Jersey Rangers two days later before facing Ocean City Northeasters on June 4.Hogges, who finished bottom of the Eastern Conference last season, then embark on a road trip on June 8 when they will play four matches in seven days, against Westchester Flames, Brooklyn Knights, Jersey Express and Long Island Rough Riders.They will finish the season with four games on home soil against the Rough Riders (who visited the Island for a Christmas tour to take on the Bermuda Under-20 national team), Brooklyn Knights, Central Jersey and Jersey Express.Hogges had a three-year stint in the former USL Division Two before switching to the PDL last season as part of a partnership with the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) to help prepare their under-23 players for international competitions.It remains unclear whether the BFA whose annual grant was reduced from $1million to $750,000 in last week’s Government budget will continue to provide financial support for the Hogges as part of that agreement.Last season saw the association take full charge of team affairs last term with national under-23 coach Scott Morton leading the Hogges. That would likely change, however, if the Hogges owners regained control over coaching and player selection.North Village boss Shaun Goater, a Hogges co-owner, was hugely disappointed at being overlooked by the BFA last season after throwing his hat into the ring for the top job, and would be the likely frontrunner if there was a coaching switch.Bermuda Hogges 2011 PDL scheduleMay 27 Reading United at BAA FieldMay 29 New Jersey Rangers at BAA FieldJune 4 Ocean City at BAA FieldJune 8 Westchester Flames at City Park StadiumJune 10 Brooklyn Knights at Metropolitan OvalJune 12 Jersey Express at NJIT StadiumJune 14 Long Island Rough Riders at CY Donnelly StadiumJune 25 Westchester Flames at BAA FieldJuly 1 Jersey Express at Morris Catholic High SchoolJuly 3 Ocean City at Carey StadiumJuly 8 Reading United at Exeter High SchoolJuly 10 Central Jersey at Falcon FieldJuly 14 Long Island Rough Riders at BAA FieldJuly 16 Brooklyn Knights at BAA FieldJuly 21 Central Jersey at BAA FieldJuly 23 Jersey Express at BAA Field