Christmas arrived early at White Hill Field yesterday in the form of a $50,000 grant from construction company boss and former Somerset Eagles goalkeeper, Zane DeSilva.

DeSilva's act of generosity will now go towards the installation of training lights at the West End facility as well as supplying team jerseys and various other football accesories, while Telford Electric have also come onboard to assist in the ressurrection of Somerset Bridge Recreation Club (SBRC).

DeSilva said: "I am extremely excited to be a part of Eagles' rebuilding and know that Marc (SBRC president Marc Bean) and Kenny (Eagles coach Kenny Thompson) have some great things planned for the club that I think we can build on.

"I'm just super excited to be a part of Eagles' rebuilding and its good to support them as I do a lot of other organisations on the Island. I am just thankful that I am fortunate enough in my business life to have the opportunity to do these things.

"During my younger days at White Hill I made a lot of freindships over the years and actually got taught a few lessons in life from people like Mackie Simmons (former SBRC cricketer) and Albert Dowling (former Eagles and Devonshire Colts striker) which helped pave the way for my future coming up under those guys."

SBRC president Bean thanked DeSilva for his kind generosity as well as those who have stood by his club through thick and thin.

He said: "Everyone knows we are in a rebuilding period and we are extremely pleased and very grateful for the contribution that Zane has made; one as a community servant and two as a former Somerset Eagles player who recognises the potential of a sound, solid programme as it benefits and extends to the rest of the community."

Eagles and former national coach Thompson, added: "Marc and I approached Zane last summer and discussed having him come on board to assist us in rebuilding the programme because we were in urgent need of new goalposts and uniforms. We also required funds to assist us in the lighting and this is where Telford Electric came onboard as well.

"The lights have enabled us to be more flexible in our training activities towards preparing properly for matches. So it's an exciting period and, having been raised as a child in the Somerset Eagles family, it's very exciting to be a part of the rebuilding of the club's programme (football) and we can only look forward to some more positive things moving forward."

Thompson added: "It's important that businesses like Island Construction and Telford Electric come on board and assist clubs such as ours in the community. And with the commitment the players and members have already shown we can achieve a positive things; not just from a football perpsective, but also from a social perspective as well in the community."

Speaking on behalf of his family's company, who will oversee the installation of training lighting at the Sandys facility, Lloyd Telford III stated: "Our family has had three generations play for Somerset Eagles and so it's good to give something back to the community to let everybody know that we are behind our team."