A glorious chapter in local sports history was laid to rest yesterday when troubled soccer team, Social Club, announced their withdrawal from the First Division.

The move comes a week after a 20-0 hammering by Somerset Trojans ? a result that appears to have been the straw that broke the camel?s back.

The announcement, during a sombre press conference at the Bermuda Football Association?s headquarters at which one could hear a pin drop, was made by Social Club secretary Dennis Hart and former player Fred (Pinks) Lewis.

?It?s very hurting to tell you the truth,? said an emotional Lewis.

A player shortage, sparked by off-season transfers, lack of training and what was described as a ?negative element? at the club are being blamed for the decision.

?When I was coming up, the older guys used to tell us that you will get no glory without working for it,? said Lewis.

?The club was formed to help young black people to get along and even get their own houses by working together.

?To see this happen ? where guys just don?t care about all of the hard work which the older guys put in to give the club a good standing and good record ? is really beyond words.

?It hurts deeply and I am almost in tears . . . that?s how much it hurts me.

?I was thinking twice about coming to this press conference because I can see some of the older fellows in their graves right now probably turning over because of the situation a few undesirables have brought to the club.?

Hart, meanwhile, said he was disturbed that some youngsters had stopped coming by because ?they are intimidated by a group of people who are supposedly representing the club?.

?We, as a club, need to ensure the safety of these kids but there are too many negative elements in football right now.

?I don?t think that we can, in all consciousness, be a part of something that might manifest itself within our own club in terms of the safety of these players,? he said. ?That?s basically how we arrived to our decision.?

Hart said emphasis would now be placed towards recruiting younger players with the intention of implementing a highly structured youth programme.

He also remained cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Social Club re-entering their senior team into the BFA First Division next season.

Apologising for the move, Hart, insisted it was nevertheless necessary.

?Once we release all of the troublemakers, so to speak, basically getting them away from the rest of the people, we will then have young people . . . who are going to be a positive influence,? he said.

?This is a regretful time for us but we just don?t see any other alternative.?

BFA president Larry Mussenden complimented Social Club on their proactive stance.

?We at the BFA recognise the contribution Social Club have made to football over the years and we understand the challenges which they have and also recognise and compliment them for taking the stance which they have,? he said.

He added: ?This is a mixed blessing . . . because we know what they have had to go through. But we also see it as a new starting point from where Social Club can grow from strength to strength.?

Formerly referred to as ?the Bluebirds?, Social Club were founded in the 1940s and rose to prominence in the 1960s when the club enjoyed several cup triumphs.

They captured three consecutive league championships, going undefeated in 1963-64, 1964-65 and 1965-66. They were also runners up in 1975-76.

The former local powerhouse also won three straight FA Cup titles in 1962-63, ?63-64 and ?64-65 and were runners up in 1961.

They were also twice runners up in the Friendship Trophy competition in 1974-75 and 1975-76 and First Division Shield champions in 1968-69.

Social Club were relegated to the First Division at the end of the 1979-80 season and have remained there ever since.