Hundreds gathered as drums beat, horns blew and Gombeys danced to welcome Bermuda’s first Cricket World Cup team home.

Crowds started gathering at the Airport as early as 7 p.m. to greet the 15 players as they returned to the Island after weeks playing in Trinidad on the world’s biggest cricket stage. At one point the restless crowd started chanting “bring out the boys”.

The players didn’t leave the arrivals hall till 8.30 p.m. Skipper Irving Romaine emerged from the hall, with Premier Ewart Brown right behind him.

Players looked shocked as they filed out behind the Premier and saw the waiting fans waving flags, home-made banners and screaming with delight.

Players could barely move a step before someone else shook their hand, asked for their autograph or threw their arms around them.

The crowd showed their appreciation for the team for several minutes before it quietened down to hear what the players and politicians had to say.

As applause died down Irving Romaine was handed his two-year-old daughter Gabby and turned to crowd and said: “On behalf of the team I want to say this is amazing. The support we have received is overwhelming.”

As he walked through the crowds of well-wishers, signing cricket bats and hugging fans he added: “The whole experience is hard to put into words because it has been so amazing.

“Especially tonight, we were not expecting to see all these supporters here tonight. It goes to show the spirit of Bermuda, we didn’t win a game yet they still love us.”

The Premier had to shout over the crowd, who continued to show their support for the team, and said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda, I want to welcome home our champions.

“When they saw how many of you came here to welcome them tonight they could not believe their eyes. I just want them to know we are all proud of these young men.” Minister of Sport, Randy Horton, added: “What a great job these men have done putting Bermuda on the world cricket map. I will just finish by saying, it’s only just begun!”

Among the 700 strong crowd were scores of Berkeley Institute students who came to welcome home their classmate Malachi Jones with a sign that the S4 class had created. Lamar Richardson, 17, said: “We are really proud of him we’ve been watching all his games and it is great what he’s done, making the record books for being the youngest player to take a wicket.”

Malachi, who is also 17, couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his classmates, family, friends and fans gathered to welcome him. He said he thought only a handful of supporters would come out and he would go straight to his car.

“It’s amazing to see the support we have,” he said. “We had our supporters in Trinidad but to see our supporters at home come out to welcome us is just great.”

Spinner Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, who made international headlines by dismissing two key England batsmen in a warm-up match, said the whole experience was mind blowing.

“It was an interesting experience for people to just take to you,” he said, speaking of the international attention he received. “And when they take to you they really take to you over there.

“It was an amazing opportunity to play at the highest level of cricket and for people to realise that there are talented players on the Island.

“I’m looking forward to the team qualifying for the next one.”

You made us proud!