Antwan Russell, the Robin Hood striker, believes his team have finally shed their pub-team tag and has backed this season’s FA Cup winners to develop into a top-flight powerhouse.

Hood claimed their maiden FA Cup title yesterday after defeating Dandy Town 2-0 at the National Stadium to cap off the most successful season in their history.

They have also enjoyed their best finish in the Premier Division, ending the season as runners-up behind Town, and the former English non-League player is confident Hood can consistently challenge for top honours.

“All season we have tried to get away from this pub-team mentality,” Russell, a former Town player, said.

“People consider us a pub team and we’re trying to break away from that and show people that we’re a good football team.”

Russell, who has also previously played for PHC Zebras and Somerset Eagles, said his time at Hood has been the happiest of his career and hailed the team spirit within the camp.

“All season our team spirit has been fantastic,” said the 29-year-old.

“This is probably the first year I’ve been in Bermuda when we’ve had at least 20 guys at every training session.

“It’s definitely been a joy to be part of this club and I have to give thanks to Kyle Lightbourne, Bobby [Emmett] and Paul Scope.

“Lejuan Simmons [Hood’s top goalscorer] has also done wonders for us all season and the whole group has done well collectively.

“Before the game I said that our special players needed to step today and I think that showed. This is probably the most joy I’ve felt in Bermudian football.”

Lightbourne, who won his second FA Cup title as head coach, having previous lifted the trophy with PHC, believes Hood are proving their doubters wrong with their powerful brand of high-tempo football.

“Everyone likes to write us off at every opportunity but now they can see we’re a unit,” said Lightbourne, whose side lost 2-0 to PHC in this season’s Dudley Eve Trophy final at Wellington Oval.

“We’re trying to improve each season and this is just the beginning for Robin Hood.”

The former Walsall and Stoke City striker also praised the club’s diehard group of fans — the self-styled “Hoodlums” — for the lively support they have shown over the past few seasons.

“They made me feel like I was back in England today!” he said. “Credit to them; there is a bunch of them who support us and believe in us, and they have seen us develop as a club over the years.”

A downcast Damon Ming, who may now decide to retire, said Town failed to make the most of their scoring opportunities against Hood.

“I didn’t think we played badly, we just didn’t take our chances,” said the 37-year-old.

“Hood capitalised on a couple of our mistakes and they put the ball in the back of the net.

“There were a few crucial moments in the game and we missed some clear-cut chances and hit the post. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

“It’s been a really good season for us, though, and we really can’t complain today.”