Up to 400 soccer players are expected to step out of retirement with the formation of the Island's first seniors league.

The league, the brainchild of former North Village player David Burch, with support from Bermuda Football Association and Bermuda Industrial Union, will be made up of 16 teams of those aged 40 and over, each playing the other once a season.

Although matches won't get underway until the first week in January, 70 players will be involved in an inaugural East versus West encounter at Somerset Cricket Club on December 28 for the EF Gordon Trophy.

Burch, now 53, got the idea when he challenged a few of the old-timers to form a team to take on the current North Village side back in the summer -- and they rolled back the years to run out 8-2 winners.

"We turned out to be better than expected and showed a lot of ability, '' said Burch. "Then we spoke with some of the other older guys and they all wanted to play.'' Among those set to don their boots once more are fellow former North Village star Granville (Sam) Nusum -- who later played in the North American Soccer League with New York Cosmos -- Ralph (Gumbo) Bean, Rudy Minors, George and Bernard Brangman and ex-Pembroke Juniors star MacDonald Swan.

The aim is to work towards building a squad for the Sydney 2000 Olympics where senior soccer will be an event for the first time.

"The BFA have been in contact with organisations in places such as Argentina, Germany, England and Mexico which all have senior squads and travel the world to play in these games,'' said Burch. "In the Olympics the matches will be for those over 35.'' However, there is some relief for players whose waistlines have grown as their abilities have shrunk: Unlike the other leagues on the Island, the teams will be allowed an unlimited number of substitutes.

"Some of these guys will only be able to last about 10 minutes,'' joked Burch.

`OLD-TIMERS' RETURN -- Former North Village star Ralph (Gumbo) Bean (left) and ex-PHC striker Brandon (Pickles) Robinson could be among a host of over-40-year-old players expected to turn out in a new Bermuda senior soccer league.