oldest clubs in the Commercial League, withdrew because of a lack of players.

Club official Eric Bell, who has been with the team since 1976, stated during the summer that the team would struggle for players when Bermuda Football Association's restucturing plans, due to be introduced next season, limit the minimum age of players to 35.

But the lack of numbers came a year earlier than expected as club officials hung on for as long as possible in the hope of registering a few more players.

Last Thursday they informed the BFA of their decision to fold, just two days before the scheduled start of the season.

Forties won promotion from the B Division last season and were due to begin their campaign against A Division champions BAA Wanderers on Saturday.

"For our first game of the season the maximum we would have had available would have been 10 players because of players having to work, being off the island or injured,'' said Bell yesterday.

"When you're playing in the A Division you want to compete. It's better to pull out before the season starts than midway through.

"If you're playing in the B Division you can compete with nine or 10 players but not in the A Division.'' Forties started out in the Commercial League in the early 1970s as Bermudiana before changing to Forties -- named after the hotel chain Trust House Forte.

"They were one of the founding clubs, even before they were affiliated with the BFA,'' said Bell of the team's history.

"I'm disappointed because it is the end of an era. But I would rather go out knowing we were in the A Division and without playing a game.'' Bell said the club had hoped to pick up some players from another departing team, Hotels.

Ironically, it was also the scrapping of the roster system that the BFA were hoping to introduce this season, that led to Forties' demise. A limit on the number of players a club could register would have given them the opportunity to sign other players.

"If they had passed the roster we would have been OK,'' said Bell.

Meanwhile Prison Officers, who were promoted along with Forties, got their season off to a disappointing start, going down 6-2 to Fire Service as Troy Furbert hit a hat-trick for the firemen.

Other Fire Service goals came from Wendell Simmons, Theron Smith and Kenneth Bartrum while Craig Smith, formerly of Devonshire Colts, and Reginald (Lucky) Pitcher scored for Officers.

Des Minors, who decided against transferring to Prison Officers and instead remained with relegated PHC Raiders (formerly Spinning Wheel), netted in the 86th and 87th minutes to seal a 4-1 win over Somerset Extros.

Keith Bell and Boucetta Youssef scored for PHC in the first half while Dwaine Richardson replied for Extros.

In the A Division, Mariners had two players -- Joe Cunha for abusive language and Tim Brown for deliberate hand ball which denied a goal -- sent off late in the second half as they went down 5-2 to Lobster Pot.

Bob Markorski led the Pot scoring with a hat-trick while Alan Turner and Chris Eaton got the others. Craig Dixon and Gil Rodrigues replied for Mariners.

Robin Hood, runners-up to Wanderers last season, had Michael Stenmuir to thank for the three points against MR Onions as his late goal sealed a 1-0 win.

Substitute James Pace netted twice to lead St. George's All-Stars to a 4-3 win over Wolves Pack at Wellington Oval. George Cannonier and Charles Wade got the other goals for the home team while Paul Douglas, Casey Burgess and Jeff Cameron netted for Wolves.