This year marks 50 years since Warwick Stadium hosted its first match in the Bermuda Football Union, and when the same ground, PHC Stadium, reopens tomorrow after almost 17 years North Village will again be the opponents.

Newspaper clippings from that year related how: “Pembroke-Hamilton, playing their first league match on the lush new turf of their recently-opened £60,000 ground, were humbled and humiliated by North Village — themselves one of the lesser lights of the new BFU season.”

The visitors won that match 5-3 after Maurice Rawlins, Roderick Stowe and Irving Romaine gave them a 3-0 lead in the first half before Leroy “Nibs” Lewis and Wendell Daniels pulled it back to 3-2. Further goals for Village came from Stowe and Donald Zuill after Kingsley Adams netted a penalty for PHC early in the second half.

The match report added that: “while Pembroke-Hamilton’s football was a disgrace, it must be said that their stadium is a fine piece of work. The ground — 70 yards by 100 yards — is the best in Bermuda.”

Tomorrow, the field won’t resemble the old PHC Stadium which closed in 1998, as there is no clubhouse, no bleachers and no fencing bordering the playing surface which has been raised about four feet and looks immaculate. But it is still anticipated that the football, between two of the Island’s top teams, will match the occasion.

“It is a soft opening but there is tons of excitement in the community and throughout the Island,” Johnny Ball, the PHC president, said. “From our perspective we want to get the victory but this is just a small step in regards to getting the light operational and other field amenities and landscaping that needs to be done.

“These are small steps but at the same time it’s a big step in that we haven’t played there for so long. Hopefully we can start generating some revenue from the games because there is still more to do as far as our ‘Going Home’ initiative. There is still more fundraising that needs to be done and we’re looking forward to the continued support of our members, the community and the corporate sector.”

Ball said it was just a coincidence that the opponent for the opening match is again North Village, one of their fierce rivals. The teams have won 17 league titles between them since 1963-64, the first BFU season.

“Obviously we respect the history but it doesn’t mean anything on the day and it is time for the current PHC squad to write their own history,” Ball said. “We’re looking to get some seating for next season, but should have a little bit of seating for Sunday. People are encourage to bring some seating.

“With the lighting, it’s a longer term project as the finances is just not there. If a sponsor was to come and help us out for next season, that would be great. They say the economy is turning around so hopefully we can get more support from the corporate sector.”