With the 2004-05 football season now in full-flow, all local clubs have been reminded that the President?s Cup is again up for grabs.

The award, presented on behalf of the Bermuda Referees? Association (BRA) to the club that demonstrates the most commitment to ensuring comfort and safety at their grounds, is to be presented to the eventual recipient to emerge from three nominees come season?s end, explained BRA president Richard Knight.

?This is an award that is to be presented annually to the club that demonstrates a consistent commitment during the course of the season in providing a comfortable, secure and safe environment for players, officials and fans,? said Knight.

First Division club Ireland Rangers were last year?s inaugural recipients after beating out St.George?s Cricket Club and Devonshire Recreation Club for the award ? now entering its second year of existence.

While the BRA?s membership continues to dwindle, with officials now doubling up for weekend matches, the overall safety of match officials at club grounds is also an ongoing concern, said Knight.

?A lot of the clubs are making an effort but others are just totally disregarding it (officials? safety),? he continued.

?What we are trying to do is to encourage all clubs to ensure security at their grounds ? and not only from a referee?s perspective but from the general public?s standpoint. We?re looking out for the sake of everybody and whenever a referee enters a ground it is his total responsibility not only to ensure the players are safe but also to ensure the game itself is conducted in a safe manner.?

Making comments alluding to sporadic outbreaks of violence that flared up at football matches last season, Knight said clubs and the game itself were not really at fault.

?A lot of people fail to realise that most of these violent incidents which occur today at football matches are not actually related to the game itself,? he added.

?And it?s not really the club themselves who are at fault. But a lot of the clubs are not adhering to security procedures. Some of them aren?t even providing the players themselves with adequate changing room facilities or spectators aren?t provided with proper facilities.

?So again, this award is an incentive for clubs to make the effort to ensure a safe, clean and secure environment for everyone to come out and enjoy the game in the spirit it was meant to be enjoyed.

?Because what tends to happen is that spectators aren?t comfortable; they start complaining and then it trickles down to the players and then eventually the players get on to the referee. So in essence everybody is effected.?

This season will again see a body of referees select three nominees who they feel are worthy of a shot at winning the award. The eventual winner will then be chosen by the president of the association.

Though the award is still in its early days, Knight said he hopes to see sponsors eventually come onboard.

?We also hope this award will continue on throughout the years to be a good incentive for the clubs to strive toward,? he added.