The FA Cup trophy is quite at home at St. John?s Road and Dandy Town intend to try and keep it there.

President of Western Stars Sports Club (the football team?s base) Cal Blankendal yesterday signalled the double-crown champions? thirst for greater success this season to match their amazing results in 2003-04.

Speaking in the wake of the FA Cup?s first-round draw at the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) offices, he said Town?s players and management officials were committed to approaching every game with a wholehearted desire to win and play well.

So far, so good for the Hornets who left a stinging impression on all opponents last year en route to capturing Premier Division and FA Cup prestige, losing just one Premier game. It?s early days in the 2004-05 season but already DeVarr Boyles? men have advanced to the Martonmere Cup final and have won both of their league fixtures.

On October 24 they will begin their FA Cup defence against Social Club, a game which they should breeze through but Blankendal stressed there was no room to relax in their quest for more glory.

?We wouldn?t want to be complacent. Social Club is a team with a lot of history and all teams start on a level playing field and it just depends what happens on the day.

?Since we don?t play them in our league we really don?t know what to expect but as long as our players and coach recognise they have to go out there and play to win the match we should be okay,? said the club chief.

The team, he added, ?is doing fine? and has more depth with the acquisition of experienced players like Ottis Steede and Lloyd Holder. However, they are yet to hit top gear.

?I don?t think that thus far we have played the best football that we can but the team is able to adapt to various situations and teams so it?s a little easier than the beginning of last season.

?Once again hats off to DeVarr Boyles and Wayne Baxter who are taking care of the coaching and organisation of the team.?

So serious are Town about their mission that Blankendal disclosed they had cast aside the euphoria from their victories earlier this year and had adopted a new slogan to keep them focused.

?Our slogan is ?We?re not defending, we?re trying to win?. It?s to remind us that we?re starting all over again.

?Once you are at the top people will come for you and if you are complacent you will lose your position. If you want to continue being a team that wins championships then you have to perform in each match,? he declared, adding that Town welcomed the challenge from other clubs.

Meanwhile, the FA Cup?s first round will be played over two weekends ? October 24 and November 14 ? with seven matches on either day with two teams, Somerset and North Village, benefiting from byes on those dates respectively.

The 30-team tournament includes eight Premier Division clubs, ten from the First Division and 12 Commercial League outfits and will be played on an immediate-elimination basis. The winners will ultimately lift the FA Challenge Cup.

Reacting to the fact that his team, Prospect United, are pitted against Prospect/Fire, coach Earl Basden said it would be interesting ?to have the firemen versus the policemen?. He anticipates a ?very good battle?.

BFA Competitions Committee member Mark Trott, who assisted BFA president Larry Mussenden and BFA general secretary David Sabir with the draw, also highlighted some of the potentially-absorbing games.

?I like the rivalry between Prospect Fire and Prospect United. I also think you will get a good match between Wolves and Paget and obviously between Somerset Eagles and Boulevard.

?Everybody will be looking forward to that. It?s the only match-up between two Premier teams in the first round.?

He also warned that fans could expect certain First Division clubs to give trouble and possibly cause upsets.

?They will probably give some Premier teams a run for their money? he said, predicting that Devonshire Cougars and St. David?s would be an enticing fixture.

Devonshire Colts and Ireland Rangers, he added, could be another great clash.