Hordes of fans lined up yesterday to get tickets for Bermuda's football match against Trinidad on Sunday, which is being anticipated as one of the biggest sporting events on the Island in years. <

Those who turned out early were not disappointed but by late afternoon the match was completely sold out. By 10.30 yesterday morning the grandstand was sold out and by 4.10 p.m. all 4,500 tickets had gone.

Anticipation for the match grew stronger after Kenny Thompson's Bermuda team was victorious against Trinidad and Tobago last Sunday — the upcoming match will therefore determine which team goes on to the group stage of the World Cup, explained Ian Rawlins, the Bermuda Football Association's public relations officer.

"The interesting thing is this — in 2006 Trinidad was the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup; they had a 1.2 million population. Bermuda's population is 60,000 — so you do the math. A country of 60,000 people in the World Cup it's big, it's really huge," he said.

He admitted he had rarely seen people coming out in "droves" to buy tickets. In addition, the BFA already sold out of jerseys for the game.

The Royal Gazette talked to supporters yesterday — some of whom waited more than an hour to get their tickets, others waited out in the rain just to get a chance to support their home team.

Leslie-Ann Rochester was waiting in line to support Bermuda and predicted that "Bermuda is going to win because we are going to go out there and make some noise.

"I'm going to be hoarse on Monday going to work."

Troy Burrows, 45, admits he has been a football fan practically since birth.

"I've always loved football, but this is a special game and everyone should come out and support," he said.

"At the previous qualifier everyone there was excited.

"The atmosphere was great and I think it's going to be the same this time around."

Doors open for the match at 6 p.m.

• Send your messages of support to the team, which we will publish on Saturday, to news@royalgazette.bm.