Bermuda's Under-17 national youth team made history last night as they ran onto the pitch sporting a strip designed locally by Graeme Outerbridge and manufactured by Canadian sportswear company Locust.

It marked the first occasion that any country in the world had donned a national kit which they designed themselves.

During an impromptu presentation of the new sporting attire at the Hamilton Princess yesterday - the local team's base for the current Under 17 tournament - Outerbridge, said: "I felt that it was important for us to have some kind of ownership over our national strip.

"There's lots of manufacturers who could have easily pulled something down off the rack but it won't be original. It wouldn't be your very own."

Outerbridge also encouraged the Island's young players, who met Guyana last night, to wear the new gear with pride.

"It's an honour for anybody to put these jerseys on," he said.

"So when you put that jersey on, give a 150 percent for that jersey because other people will be looking up to you to set the example for what they're going to achieve in the future. Club is one thing, but you have to give it your all at the national level."

Bermuda's Under-17s also received words of encouragement from Sports Minister Randy Horton during the presentation.

"I would like to congratulate all of you first of all for making the team and representing Bermuda," said Horton.

"I also want to encourage you to take it very seriously the fact that you are representing Bermuda.

"When you walk out onto the field people look at you as being Bermudian and so I encourage you to always be holding your heads high and always projecting yourselves in such a way that you will be proud of yourselves and your country."

The new national team strip will also be on sale at the National Sports Centre during the current Caribbean Football Union World Cup qualifying matches.

President for manufacturer Locust sportswear, Michael Krog, said: "We have been working on this project for about a year now. It is the first time that a national team has designed their own jersey and so you guys are actually the first ones to play in these jerseys."

In addition, to commemorate the historical occasion, each national youth team member will be featured on the Canadian sports company's website at www.locust.us.