Bermuda Hogges have been backed to hit the ground running with the Premier Development League (PDL) new-boys opening their season with four home matches at the National Sports Centre.

Up first for the Hogges are Major League Soccer (MLS) feeder team Reading United on May 28 and 30, before they host Ocean City Barons in a double-header in early June.

Kicking off with a slew of home games will give the players the best chance to adapt to the unfamiliar amateur league and put early points on the board, Hogges co-owner Paul Scope said yesterday.

"We start our season a bit later than the other teams because they wanted to wait until the end of their college programme before coming to Bermuda so they could bring their best players," Scope said.

"That suits us as we wanted to start our season with a few home games and hopefully build some momentum. Playing at home certainly gives you a huge advantage as the Hogges found out when playing in the USL-D2. "

The PDL newcomers have to wait until June 10 for their first road trip when they play three games in the space of six days against Ironmen Express, New Jersey Rangers and Central Jersey.

While Hogges struggled to pick up points on their travels in the USL-D2, Scope believes they will have no such problems in the PDL as their players will be free of work commitments.

In the past, Hogges players were unable to get time off work for overseas trips.

"The PDL schedule allows you to be more flexible," he said. "We only actually make three trips to the US but will stay for longer periods so we do not have to play back-to-back matches.

"We will also be able to select our strongest squad for each away trip as the college players will not have to get time off work."

Scope is confident Hogges will generate as much local interest, if not more, now they are playing in the PDL – an amateur league mostly made up of players aged 23 and under.

But he admits the most important factor in attracting more supporters through the turnstiles will be whether or not they prove to be a winning team.

"I do not think the Bermuda public cares too much if we are playing against Wilmington Hammerheads or Reading United," he said. "They are both US teams and by Bermuda's standards they are both top class sides.

"The Hogges will be made up for a new bunch of younger players and I think that may attract a few more families to our games. If we pick up good results at home then I am sure we will attract supporters."

Ex-Reading United head coach, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) technical director Derek Broadley, believes his inside knowledge of the franchise formerly known as Reading Rage could help give Hogges the advantage on the opening day of the season.

"Fixture lists often throw up a few coincidences and this is one of those instances," he said. "I was at Reading for a number of seasons and now I am involved with the Hogges through my position as BFA technical director.

"I am familiar with their players and I do not think their system and style of play will have changed too much since I left, so it will be an interesting one."

Broadley said the fact their PDL opponents would not be used to travelling overseas for matches could also play into Hogges' hands.

"I think a lot of these teams will be entering into the unknown when they come to Bermuda," he said, "it will be unfamiliar territory for them."

Hogges have given the BFA control over coaching and player selection following a joint decision to enter the team in the PDL.

The move ended Hogges' three-season stint in the USL-D2 and brought them in line with the BFA's drive to develop the Under-23 national team ahead of the CAC Games, Pan-Am and Olympic qualifiers.

2010 USL PDL Eastern Conference Mid Atlantic Division

May

Friday 28 H Reading United National Sports Centre

Sunday 5 H Reading United National Sports Centre

June

Friday 4 H Ocean City National Sports Centre

Sunday 6 H Ocean City National Sports Centre

Thursday 10 A Ironbound Express TBA

Saturday 12 A New Jersey Rangers Morris Catholic High School

Tuesday 15 A Central Jersey PDA Complex, Zarapath, New Jersey

Friday 25 H Ironbound Express National Sports Centre

Sunday 27 H Ironbound Express National Sports Centre

July

Friday 2 A Hampton Roads Piranhas TBA

Sunday 4 A Reading United Exeter High School

Tuesday 6 A Northern Virginia Royals Hellwig Memorial Field Stadium

Friday 16 H Northern Virginia Royals National Sports Centre

Sunday 18 H Northern Virginia Royals National Sports Centre

Saturday 24 A Carolina Dynamo Macpherson Stadium

Monday 26 A West Virginia Chaos Schoenbaum Stadium