AS hard as Bermuda Football Association's new administration work to rid local soccer of the drugs plague, their efforts to make the game more attractive to the average family spectator will reap little reward unless something's done to change the schedule.

Wednesday night's Martonmere Cup semi-final at Devonshire Rec. between Devonshire Cougars and Wolves ended at 12.15 in the morning. That meant that players, coaches, officials and most of the fans who stayed until the bitter end, didn't get home until around 1.00 a.m.

And, in midweek, for the working man or woman, the school pupil or college student that just doesn't make sense.

Indeed, games finishing at that time are more likely to attract the undesirable element at which both the BFA and police are currently directing their anti-drugs campaign.

We know of no other country in the world where soccer matches with the potential of extra-time, such as Wednesday's games, kick off so late into the evening.

The Cougars-Wolves clash didn't start until after 9.00 p.m. and could have been further delayed had the preceding game between North Village and Dandy Town also required an extra period. That would have meant the second game concluding close to 1.00 o'clock.

It's an issue that's been raised before, but the BFA have always been reluctant to change.

New president Larry Mussenden and his executive have said they're determined to increase attendance at games by making the sport more attractive to the average family.

One of the ways they can do that is by kicking off earlier and thus concluding matches at a reasonable hour.

During the last week a BFA group have been seeking ideas for improvement on a fact-finding mission to the UK.

What they might have noticed is that games there and throughout the rest of Europe rarely start later than 8.00 p.m., and many at 7.30.

It's high time we followed suit.

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WASHED up and over the hill at 40?

Any disillusioned athlete approaching that milestone with such fears need look no further than Kent Richardson for inspiration.

The local water ski fanatic turned triathlete blew away the field in last Sunday's Bank of Bermuda individual triathlon.

And at the ripe old age of 42, he's getting faster and stronger.

Should he continue to improve and earn a spot at next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, nobody would be more deserving of a place on the team.

- ADRIAN ROBSON