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Bermuda Hogges
Full name	Bermuda Hogges Football Club
Nickname(s)	Hogges
Founded	2006
Ground	Bermuda National Stadium; Hamilton, Bermuda; (Capacity: 8,500)
Chairman	Shaun Goater
Manager	Kyle Lightbourne
League	USL Second Division
2009	Regular Season: 9th; Playoffs: did not qualify
Home colours	Away colours

Bermuda Hogges is a Bermudian professional soccer team based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Second Division (USL-2), the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

The team plays its home games at the Bermuda National Stadium, where they have played since 2007. The team's colors are red, green and white. Their current head coach is former English football league and Bermuda national team standout Kyle Lightbourne.

[edit] History

The Hogges were announced as an expansion team in the USL Second Division in 2007, owned by Bermuda legend Shaun Goater, fellow former professional Kyle Lightbourne, and local businessman Paul Scope. The stated aim of the team was to develop the overall level of play in Bermuda due to increased regular international competition for the top Bermudan players, which it was hoped would also result in a more competitive national team. The name "Hogges" was suggested by the team's owners following a fan contest; it comes from the hog's long association with Bermuda, and the toughness of the animal.^[1]

The initial first team squad included a number of full Bermudian international players, notably Stephen Astwood, Damico Coddington, Darius Cox, Devaun DeGraff, Timothy Figureido, Damon Ming, John Barry Nusum, Michael Parsons, Jelani Scott and Kwame Steede, all of whom had represented their country in various World Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying games. Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne were also Bermudian internationals until their retirement from international football, making the Hogges' by far the most experienced USL2 team in terms of international competition.

The team's first game took place on April 27, 2007, at home against the Harrisburg City Islanders, in front of over 1,500 fans ^[2]. The Islanders won the game 1-0 off a goal from Chad Severs, setting in motion a difficult first season for the Hogges. Bermuda won just three of their 20 regular season games - a 2-1 over New Hampshire Phantoms at the end of June in what was the franchise's first ever victory, a 3-2 over Cincinnati Kings in July in which Stephen Astwood hit two goals, and a 1-0 victory in August, again over New Hampshire. Lloyd Holder scored the Hogges' first ever goals in the 1-1 tie with Cincinnati in May ^[3]; elsewhere, however, the Hogges struggled to find form. Charlotte Eagles hit four goals past them in two separate occasions, Richmond Kickers hammered them 4-0 in mid-June, while the season's nadir came in the astonishing 8-1 demolition they suffered at the hands of Crystal Palace Baltimore in late July. The season ended with the Hogges in last place in the USL2 table, one point behind the New Hampshire Phantoms, but 29 points behind regular season champions Richmond. Stephen Astwood had the honor being the Hogges' top scorer in the debut season, with 4 goals, while Damon Ming contributed 4 assists. Shaun Goater made 8 appearances for his team, scoring three goals along the way.

The Hogges' form improved slightly in the 2008 season, and although they finished the year with a losing record, and out of the playoffs for a second year, they did improve to a 5-13-2 record, and finished ahead of Real Maryland Monarchs in the final standings. The year began with a disappointing 6-0 loss to Charlotte Eagles on the opening day of the season, but the Hogges quickly recovered to register back-to-back victories for the first time in franchise history with wins over Wilmington Hammerheads and Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Further wins over Western Mass Pioneers (3-1 in mid-June), Real Maryland Monarchs (2-1 on the road in late July off a late goal from Kevin Richards), and Crystal Palace Baltimore (3-1 on the penultimate game of the season) provided the year's bright spots; however, they also suffered a number of comprehensive losses, falling 5-1 to Wilmington in early July, 5-1 to eventual USL2 champions Cleveland City Stars later in the month, and being annihilated 7-1 at home by the Richmond Kickers, with Richmond striker David Bulow scoring a hat trick. Damon Ming was Bermuda's sophomore season top performer, with 4 goals and 4 assists. Shaun Goater made just 1 appearance, registering just 18 minutes of play for the year.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current roster

as at October 11, 2009

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Timothy Figureido
2	DF	Darius Cox
3	DF	Jonathan Ball
4	DF	Kevin Richards
5	FW	Kofi Dill
6	DF	Jared Peniston
7	FW	Damon Ming
8	DF	Omar Shakir
9	MF	Stephen Astwood
10	FW	Damico Coddington
11	FW	Lashun Dill
12	GK	Lyndon Burgess
15	MF	Devaun DeGraff

No.	Position	Player
16	DF	Blenn Bean
18	DF	Michael Parsons
19	DF	Kyle Lightbourne
20	MF	Keith Jennings
21	DF	Lloyd Holder
22	FW	Jamie Smith
23	DF	Tokia Russell
25	GK	Jason Williams
27	MF	Keston Lewis
28	DF	Seion Darrell
29	DF	Marlon Rojas
99	FW	Antwan Russell