At 35 years of age, Somerset Trojans? Richard Scott has experienced the best and worst of times during a chequered football career.

After enjoying early success at Somerset in terms of cup-winning glory in top flight football, Scott?s world was turned upside down as the once thriving club gradually descended to mediocrity.

But what a difference a new coach, technical committee and the backing of an entire community can make.

With Trojans currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak and headed for a first major cup final since 1994-95, Scott ? who has soldiered on through thick and thin ? is enjoying each and every moment of his team?s rapid elevation to the fore.

Scott and his Trojans team-mates are now bracing themselves for tonight?s rumble in the West End against Dandy Town in what will be a prelude to next month?s Martonmere Cup Final at the National Sports Centre.

Trojans edged Hornets 2-1 in Martonmere action last month.

Scott, who sought a release from Cricket Lane at the end of last season, is the sole survivor of Trojans? 1992-93 Dudley Eve Trophy winning team which defeated PHC 3-1 on aggregate.

So what persuaded the player to stick it out for another season?

?I made a permanent decision in a temporary situation,? was the Government accountant?s response. ?But after really thinking about it I thought I?d give it another go.?

Given Trojans? fast start out of the blocks this season, it?s probably one of the best decisions Scott has ever made concerning his life-long passion with the game.

But first he had to get clearance from wife Shinika.

?I talked about it with my wife, of course, and she was comfortable with my decision,? smiled Scott, who actually began his career as a speedy forward.

His tenure up front, however, would be short-lived as the coaching staff during those times opted for the impregnable combination of Rodney (Rock) Bascome and Jerry (Chocolate) Webb.

?It?s really funny because when Randy Horton was coach I couldn?t make the team as a striker,? added Scott, who holds a bachelor?s degree in accounts. ?Those were the times when it was very difficult to make the team. One day we were playing against North Village, we needed a defender and I?ve been playing there ever since.

?Initially when I first started playing football (Trojans mini minors) I played sweeper before moving onto striker.?

Safe to say, Scott?s career seems to have come full circle, along with happier times which have seemingly returned to Cricket Lane.

?The atmosphere around Somerset these days is absolutely crazy,? he added. ?I guess in a nutshell what I?ve seen is that Somerset is no different from what tends to happen in sports in general in Bermuda.?

Somerset?s fall from grace, he added, could be attributed to one debilitating factor ? failure to plant seeds for the future.

?When we were doing well we lost our focus on the development side of things,? Scott said. ?That?s what happened to Somerset . . . we were winning and not concerned about development or what was to come.?

Thanks to the vision of a select few, and coach Brown?s presence at the West End club, Trojans appear to be back on the narrow path to success.

?After years of putting time into development, not only with the senior programme but also the junior programme, we are beginning to see the fruit. And not just with the senior team but also with the junior teams as well,? Scott noted.

And while the veteran player is pleased to see his club destined for a first Martonmere Cup final since 1992-93 and currently leading the Premier Division, as he pointed out, ?there?s always room for improvement?.

?The team are playing well but we haven?t even reached the potential which I know we can reach and it?s still early in the season,? Scott said.

?Are we are happy to be in this position? Yes. Very happy indeed. But we also understand that it?s one thing to reach a certain standard but another to remain there.?

As for tonight?s contest against Hornets, Scott added: ?Town are always a tough test for us. We certainly won?t take them lightly and they are certainly a force to be reckoned with.

?But we are a good team as well and so Town should be just as concerned with us as we are about them.?