Months of extremely hard work came to a head last week when Kyle Lightbourne, Paul Scope and myself were able to officially launch the Bermuda Hogges ? our Island's first professional football team.

It was a great evening at Fresco's Wine Bar where we held our launch party, and it's always extremely exciting to see a project you really believe in passionately coming together after such a long period of planning.

The Hogges' first game in the second division of the United Soccer League (USL) is in April, and I have to admit that we're a little behind in terms of preparing a team ? but in a way it is easier to get things moving when you are under the gun.

We have already had an initial meeting with a lot of the players who could be part of the squad of 26 players we are looking to assemble.

That meeting gave us as coaches an opportunity to sit down with most of Bermuda's top players and get a feel for their feelings on the whole project and what sort of commitment they would be prepared to make as we move forward.

I have to say all three of us left that meeting in a very confident mood, as all the players seemed to respond in a very positive manner and appeared to understand what a fantastic opportunity playing in a professional American league presents.

Once we've got one or two administrative issues ironed out, we'll probably be looking to have our opening training session in the first week of March. We'll be assessing the fitness levels of the players at that stage and we'll build up from there.

We're conscious of the fact that club football will still be going on then and we won't be stepping on anybody's toes as the season reaches its climax.

But with our first USL game scheduled for April 20 against the New Hampshire Phantoms, it's important we get things moving as quickly as possible.

At this moment in time, out of the 26 players in our squad we will be looking to sign between three to five players on professional, franchise contracts ? with the rest of the players deemed to be part-time.

We have a fairly good idea who we want our professionals to be, and over the course of the next month or two the identities of those players will be made public. First though we have to sit down with the players we've got in mind to come up with a deal which works for both us and them. But we don't anticipate that being a problem.

In terms of the day to day management of the team, Kyle and Paul are the coaches and will be concentrating fully on that aspect of things, while my role up to now has principally been focused on the business and administration side of the project. I'll continue to pour a lot of energy into that role, but I'll also become more involved in the actual football once things get up and running.

I can confirm that Kyle and I will both be playing members of the squad, though I don't anticipate either of us playing a full 90 minutes throughout the course of the season.

And while Kyle and Paul are officially the coaches, I will also be playing a part during the training sessions as well.

I'm really looking forward to lacing up the boots once again. My fitness level is nowhere near where it was or where it needs to be ? I've only been for the odd jog here and there since I retired because I've been so busy doing other things!

But once training officially gets underway I'll be looking to set an example to all the other players in terms of how seriously I take my preparation. Hopefully they'll respond.

One of the advantages of being a player-coach is that you're not one of these coaches who stands on the touchline, tracksuit on, arms folded, simply barking orders. You're involved in everything from the fitness tests, the skills drills to the practice matches and by being involved it's possible to inspire the players around you by what you rather than just by what you . It's a great new challenge for all of us and I cannot wait to get started.

On another note, I've been asked about our involvement in the USL in relation to David Bascome's exciting new six-a-side competition, the Island Soccer League (ISL), and whether there might be a clash over the summer.

First of all let me say that I think David's competition is an excellent one and the fact that we now have two major football initiatives going on side by side is terrific news for the future of the sport on this island.

In terms of whether there's going to be a clash, I'm confident there won't be.

The Hogges will primarily focus on the top 26 players at Bermuda's disposal, whereas the ISL will involve mostly Premier Division players who might struggle to get in the Hogges squad, all the way down to those in the Commercial Division.

Now if we come across a player we want to be involved with the Hogges who would rather play in the ISL, then we are not going to stop them. It's going to be down to the individual to decide.

Saying that though, we're convinced that we offer a fantastic package to any aspiring professional player ? a package that has never existed on the Island before. The Hogges and the ISL are two very different animals, both doing their bit to raise standards across the board. If they both thrive, Bermuda football thrives. And that, when all is said and done, is all that matters.

If anybody reading this column has any questions or thoughts they'd like to put to me regarding the Hogges or any other football matter, please contact Sam Stevens on sports desk and I will respond to any queries as I receive them.