If there’s anyone who is proud to see PHC’s field back up and running again it’s Kyle Lightbourne.

The former English Premier League footballer got his first shot in the spotlight while playing football with the club as a teenager.

The field had been lying largely dormant for nearly 17 years, but Mr Lightbourne said he’s thrilled it’s finally being used for senior football again.

Up next for the Warwick field? A community fun day on Good Friday.

Mr Lightbourne will be one of the recognisable faces showing his support at the event. Local MPs Jeff Sousa and Lawrence Scott, as well as some of the club’s older members like Bummy Symonds and Ed Durham, will also join in on some of the day’s activities.

Festivities will start at 9am with a one-mile walk/run from Lindo’s in Warwick to the PHC field. The fun continues until 7pm.

There’ll be live entertainment from the likes of reggae artist Slanger, Mitchell ‘Live Wires’ Trott and Bermuda School of Music’s Steelpan Band. There will also be food for sale and fun castles, a bull ride, kite flying and Gombeys for families to enjoy.

Club President Jonathan Ball said he’s been on a mission for the past 18 months to breathe new life into PHC and its surrounding community. The club building was knocked down 17 years ago after plans were drawn to build a multi-purpose facility there.

The rebuild never materialised, however the field was re-laid and re-soiled and used for youth games and recreational activities. The pitch was officially reopened to premier division football in January.

The plan is to make even more improvements.

“We hope the upgrades to the club will give our young people an outlet to do something in a constructive way,” Mr Ball said. “And for the community as a whole we hope they’ll want to come out to see some good football and take part in activities in a fun and secure environment.”

Mr Lightbourne believes the field could also help to hone a new generation of talent.

“This is obviously where everything started for me,” the 46-year-old said. “My house where I grew up is on Cedar Hill so this was the only club that I really ever played for in Bermuda prior to playing professionally in England.

“One of the PHC coaches I can remember was Cecil Robinson. He always encouraged the team to just put their best foot forward and enjoy the game.

“I also played under Leroy ‘Nibbs’ Lewis. He was a PHC stalwart who instilled a lot of good values in myself and the other players. He was a disciplinarian. No one could really get away with anything with him, but that served me well later on in my professional career.”

In its heyday the club would often challenge the best teams on the Island for honours. “We regularly won the league and won many trophies under Mr Lewis,” the footballer said.

It was due to his success while playing for the PHC Zebras, that Mr Lightbourne had the opportunity to go on trial with Scarborough, an English football club in North Yorkshire.

He was 22 years old at the time — most players are drafted when they’re much younger.

The Bermudian went on to enjoy a successful run with Walsall Football Club before he was promoted to the Premier League side Coventry City and Stoke City in the late 1990s. He returned to the Island in 2003 and has since coached PHC Zebras, Bermuda Hogges and Robin Hood.

“It’s taken them so long to get back down here playing at PHC, but I’m happy to see they’re moving in the right direction,” he told The Royal Gazette.

Cricket games have been played at the field for the past two or three seasons.

“It’s been in the works for a couple of years now,” Mr Lightbourne said. “Now I feel the club can grow because they are back home and are able to make a little money when they have games.

“The next step is to try and get the clubhouse going and keep improving the facilities. That’s what people want to see now — then we can get back to where we were.”

He said the community was rallying behind the club’s efforts.

“Last year’s community fun day was a great success and it just brings everyone together,” he said. “It brings that feel good factor.

“Even when we were here for the first game against North Village people were waiting for PHC to open back up for years.

“It’s a place that holds a lot of good memories for them. It was one of the premier stadiums at that time in the 80s and 90s.”

To register for the one-mile walk/run, visit RaceDayWorld.com.