Year -- chief among them the Island's successful return to the international arena and an improved rapport with the fans.

But the Bermuda Football Association president knows there is still a lot of hard work ahead for his organisation.

"We have built a base to go into the future,'' he says. "Based on our six-year plan that was unveiled at Government House, we truly feel that we have managed to get an understanding from the clubs, players and corporate Bermuda and certainly the administration of soccer in terms of where we want to go.'' But now Tyrrell wants to see further progress: "We want to make a major step on the field of play. We have already established verbally that we want to get back into international football.

"We are going to have our under-17 national team enter the preliminaries for the next World Cup which is coming up, and we are certainly entering the Caribbean Shell Cup again.

"But this time we want to make a greater impression in this competition, not just go there and be there for the first round.

"We want to do well and make an impression so we can see where we are heading in terms of the year 2000 when we have to start qualifying again for the following World Cup.'' Tyrrell expects to see some of the programmes put in place by new Director of Coaching Clyde Best begin to blossom.

"I believe Mr. Best has had his honeymoon period. I know he now wants to get some results. He wants to see good national teams put together at all levels, from seniors down to the really young.

"We are going to see some real huge successes in the next year to 18 months.'' However, he points out, fans have a role to play in those successes, especially following incidents that have had a negative impact on the image of the game.

"One of the major personal things that I would like to see is some aspect of us getting in touch with the fans of soccer, the spectator community.

Somewhere along the line we are not getting their attention.

"All of this work we are doing at executive and club level is going to be for nothing if they don't understand that every time they come to a game and there is some disruption, it sets everybody back.

"There is a perception, people start thinking `oh, soccer can't be good'.

They ask: `Why should I want my youngster to play soccer or why should I go out and watch it?' Consequently there aren't going to be sufficient numbers attending to cover our expenses.'' He continues: "I believe that it is a minority group who are hell-bent on causing problems at anything, be it soccer or cricket.

"But to those people who want to come and watch soccer I say to them that it is still a lovely game to come to see, but we need more than just the rowdy element. We want everybody to come out and see a game and watch it in peace.'' Meanwhile, the BFA's call for funding at their unveiling of the six-year international programme has brought in about 50 percent of their overall target, estimated to be $6 million. Further assistance is desperately required, says Tyrrell.

And without the full use of National Stadium it has been difficult to have touring teams to help bump up those funds. The surface at the stadium is playable, and there is seating available, but with the amount of work going on around it, it is hard to make the surroundings safe for large crowds.

"We haven't been able to have matches played here because we are handicapped without a secure National Stadium at this time,'' adds Tyrrell.

"I realise that Donald Lines and his committee are doing a good, hard job and we have to be patient, but as things stand now we are not able to offer a good package for visiting teams.

"We still need cash to run programmes ... money does a lot of things. It takes away the pressure, a lot of the headaches.

"But I believe that if we can get people believing in us a lot more we can reach our financial goals.

"We've got the international corporate people behind us, but we need local companies to come forward and help us financially or otherwise.'' Many of the recommendations of Cal Smith's restructuring report on the future of soccer on the Island have already been acted on, he says, while others are being considered.

"What we are hoping is that by February, at a special council meeting, we can put to our affiliates some of our recommendations that have been supported by the executives.''