Just as it had begun shortly after the tragic loss of Dandy Town defender Randy Swan, the year 2005 in local football came full circle 11 months later with the untimely death of arguably the Island?s most aggressive yet mildly mannered centre backs.

Frankie Brewster, a former Hotels International, BAA and Bermuda international defender, died after suffering a heart attack at his Devonshire residence on November 2 ? just over a month shy of the first anniversary of Swan?s death which also rocked local football back on its heels. He was 56 years old.

A BAA stalwart, Brewster was also a prominent darts and cricket player as well as golfer, but will be best remembered for his involvement in the senior national football team in the 1970s.

Owner of the popular Pro Shop on Reid Street, he was a member of Bermuda?s star-studded 1980 Pan American Games national squad. He also represented the Island in football at the 1974 and 1978 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo and Columbia.

Local football also bade farewell to former Somerset Trojans forward Richard (Dirt) Simmons and Devonshire Cougars? Clevie Campbell.

However, the year 2005 did produce its share of good memories as Khano Smith?s elevation to the Major League Soccer professional ranks, former West Ham striker Clyde Bests? FIFA Order of Merit and MBE Awards, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Larry Mussenden?s appointment as chairperson for FIFA?s disciplinary committee and 2004 Male Athlete of the Year John Barry Nusum?s superb rookie season with US Major Indoor Soccer League side Philadelphia KiXX would attest.

Another local footballer, Damon Ming, also grabbed local headlines when he debut for Maidenhead United in the UK.

But it was Smith?s arrival at the Gillette Stadium ? home of two-time defending NFL Super Bowl champs New England Patriots ? which created the biggest stir.

The 24-year-old former Dandy Town striker?s talents were spotted by New England Revolution boss ? former Liverpool stalwart Steve Nicol ? during the Rev?s brief tour of Bermuda last March.

Smith?s goal against the touring team in their 2-1 win over Kyle Lightbourne?s national squad at the National Sports Centre (NSC) was enough to earn the player trials with the MLS club on a tour of Ecuador where the former Hornets marksman cemented a professional career.

Smith then opened his scoring account in his first start for the Revs after only 17 minutes of play.

Another Bermudian, Kevin Richards, failed in a bid to make the cut with another MLS side Colorado Rapids while in the UK, Shaun Goater?s career was extended when the striker signed on at Southend United after a disappointing term at Reading.

His time with the Shrimpers started brilliantly, six early-season goals ? including two against bitter rivals Colchester United ? made him a firm fan?s favourite, although his year ended badly when a dislocated collarbone cost him a chance to join in the festive football.

Devonshire Cougars? and 2004-05 MVP Domico Coddington enjoyed another summer of football at Canadian Professional Soccer League side Oakville Blue Devils before crossing the Atlantic to have trials with Italian Serie C club AS Acireale.

North Village striker Keishen Bean briefly enrolled in studies in Havana, Cuba.

Another team making their presence felt on local soil was Brazilian giants Santos ? albeit a watered down version ? who chalked up two wins and were held to a scoreless draw by a gutsy Town at a windswept Somerset Cricket Club in early February.

Manchester City?s Youth Academy also stopped over in June, something national coach Lightbourne ? who had his contract extended another year ? probably wished they hadn?t following the tourists 7-0 thrashing of the senior national squad at the NSC.

Lightbourne?s men were also crushed 4-0 by World Cup -bound Trinidad after having been extended a last minute invitation to tour the Caribbean in May.

In February, BFA executive Kenny Thompson resigned just weeks shy of the end of his three year deal along with Boulevard coach John Rebello who threw in the white towel last January, leaving former Blazers players Vernon Symonds and Amon Brown to hold the fort.

And naturally the year 2005 in local football also had its share of controversy, beginning with a national team drugs scans debacle which saw Devonshire Cougars trio Omar Butterfield, Heys Wolfe and Raymond Beach banned from playing international and domestic football for one year for refusing to take a third drugs test after the initial two were deemed ?invalid? on the eve of Santos? tour of the Island.

After sitting out the remainder of the 2004-05 season, both Butterfield and Wolfe resumed playing but it was later learned that Beach ? who went on a phenomenal goal scoring spree (19 goals in ten matches) ? was slapped with a three year ban instead of one amid claims it was the second time the gifted player had refused to take a mandatory drugs test.

Still, this could not prevent Cougars from making history at the Den after overcoming the odds and capturing a first ever Premier Division championship and Friendship Trophy title.

The Big Cats narrowly missed out on a third trophy, the inaugural Champions Cup (renamed the CCS Dudley Eve Champions Cup) heading instead west to St.John?s Road club Town while Devonshire Colts won the First Division Champions Cup.

The new tournament, involving the top four clubs from the Premier and First Division, eventually saw top contenders from both divisions withdraw for fear of injuries to players

Cougars coach Andrew Bascome also carved his name into the history books by becoming the first coach ever to coach three different Premier Division clubs to league titles on three separate occasions in his first year in charge. The former North Village midfield maestro also achieved the feat at Hornets and Boulevard.

Still on the subject of Village, under rookie coach Kentoine Jennings, the Reds added the FA Cup to the Martonmere and Charity Cups won near the end of 2004.

Now back to the negatives.

Referee George O?Brien?s decision to abandon a Friendship Trophy contest involving Hornets and Village at St.John?s Field sparked controversy. According to competition rules, the match should have gone into penalties when the two teams remained deadlocked after extra time.

But amid chaos, BFA officials stepped in and ordered the two teams to settle it out in a penalty shootout at Devonshire Rec which Hornets boycotted and eventually forfeited. Town?s protest to the Ministry of Sport?s ADR tribunal came to no avail.

Top referee Lyndon Raynor retired after coming under heavy criticism for his handling of Village?s home league match with Hornets at Bernard Park. Another top ref, Stuart Crockwell, quit the game along with Anthony Mouchette who has since had a change in heart.

The pitch itself at Bernard Park then grabbed headlines after a over hanging branch located at the western end of the grounds interfered with play in at least two matches.

First Division Prospect had an appeal against a BFA?s decision to penalise Paget only twice for fielding an ineligible player ? who actually played on three occasions ? amount to nothing.

Paget had a player ? involved in the ugly 2004 Friendship Trophy Final at Wellington Oval which was marred by violence ? spotted playing football at the Den. He was, however, subsequently banned from the game for life by BFA officials.

And other than one unruly Boulevard fan who seemed to take delight in harassing a linesman during a match at Somerset Cricket Club, there were no reports of violence at club facilities for the entire 2004-05 season.

That streak, though, would be broken on the opening day of the 2005-06 campaign when armed thugs clashed in front of onlookers in the parking lot of the Southampton Rangers Sports Club following a Premier Division match involving PHC and Trojans.

Hamilton Parish became the second First Division club in three years to appear in a FA Cup final after upsetting perennial cup giants Trojans in the semi-final, while commercial side MR Onions also pulled off a giant-slaying act when they ousted then struggling Premier Division outfit Southampton Rangers from the competition in a replay at BAA Field.

Somerset Eagles and Southampton Rangers were relegated to the First Division while Ireland Rangers clinched the First Division league championship and Shield double, and with it promotion to the top tier for the first time in history along with Devonshire Colts.

In women?s football, Lady Cougars captured the coveted league and FA Cup double.

First Division side Prospect United won an unprecedented fourth straight BFA Fair Play Award for committing the least amount of infractions during the 2004-05 season.

Village equalled PHC Zebras record for the most consecutive Charity Cup wins (four) in September, while Hornets clinched a fifth Martonmere Cup title and Lady Cougars won the Konica Cup in November.

Individual awards saw Hornets stalwart Carlos Smith top the Premier Division goal scoring charts, Town team-mate Cymande Davis voted ?keeper of year and PHC?s Tokia Russell defender of the year honours.