Six months after losing their coach and five starters, and tipped by some as relegation favourites, Devonshire Colts have emerged as the most successful team in the 1998-99 football season.

It would have been hard to imagine such success last October after other obligations forced David Furbert to change his mind about returning as coach.

On top of that, Colts had to rebuild following the departure of key players Mark Ray, Vic Ball, Ellington Weldon, Keenan Burchall and Jermaine Belboda who all changed clubs.

In stepped Ray Jones and Darrin Lewis to share the head coaching post, and at the first attempt they led the team to the Martonmere Cup final, the season's first final which they lost, and then the season-ending Friendship and FA Cup finals which they won.

While Vasco again lifted the main trophy -- the league -- Colts, in terms of silverware collected, went one better in a season which saw the honours spread around. North Village took the Dudley Eve, Dandy Town the Martonmere and Boulevard the Charity Cup.

But Jones can, with some justification, claim the title of `best team of the season' as Colts also beat favourites Vasco and Town in the two finals.

"We beat the so-called two best teams in Bermuda by league standards,'' said Jones, referring to the league champions and runners-up.

"People definitely tipped us as relegation favourites, but we have a lot of hidden talent at Devonshire Colts, a rich junior programme, which is why we reaped the success we did.

"Eighty percent of my team have come through the junior ranks. Yes, we lost Ellington Weldon who had been our premier goalscorer, but he hadn't played consistently over the last two years prior to leaving to go to Wolves. Vic Ball went to Southampton Rangers, `Beaver' Ray to the Commercial League and two youngsters Jermaine Belboda and Keenan Burchall also left.

"Because they were regulars, people outside Colts tipped us to be relegated.

But we picked up Aljame Zuill, Marvin Belboda, one of the most talented players around, and Nathan Samuels, an under-19 player.

"We also went back into the archives and brought out the old man, Harrison Trott, and at the end of his season Geron turned 16 and was able to play with his father. We never felt that Colts were going to be fighting for relegation.'' Jones insisted Colts started the season not with the intention of simply surviving but to win honours. And besides the two trophies, they also finished fifth in the standings which qualifies them for the Martonmere Cup next season.

"Our goal was to win the league and one other major trophy. We didn't win the league but we got two major trophies, so it was successful,'' added the coach.

"The players we lost accounted for 12 goals last season but we brought back Aljame Zuill who scored 11 so we cancelled that out with one player.

"My previous coaching experience has been limited to the junior ranks but fortunately the bulk of this team includes those who I coached in the juniors.

"Getting off to a good start in the season was important, which we did. Our fans have been starved of success for quite a long time and having two young coaches, we knew if we didn't get off to a good start it could have been a stressful season.'' As FA Cup champions, Colts made the traditional visit to the Cabinet office and City Hall yesterday to receive citations from Acting Premier Eugene Cox and Acting Mayor of Hamilton, Lawson Mapp.

And they had the bruises to show for Sunday's FA Cup victory, with defender Jermel Belboda wearing a cast on his right leg after suffering ligament damage to both sides of his ankle late in the match. He expects to have to wear the cast for about seven weeks.

Derek Wright was also hobbling with a brace on his right leg after suffering ligament damage to his knee in the first 10 minutes. Wright was eventually replaced by Jahmah Samuels after 15 minutes and watched his replacement score the game's only goal late in the second half.

"Personally it was disappointing to go out that way but from a team point of view it worked out fine,'' said Wright.

"The ligaments are badly strained and may be torn but it's going to take another two weeks before they can tell.'' Harrison Trott, at age 38 the oldest player in the Colts team, is happy to be still winning honours.

"It's only the Martonmere Cup that I haven't won with this club,'' said Trott who isn't making any plans about his future jut yet.

"We'll see what happens at the beginning of the season. I haven't made anyone any promises that I'm going to be out but certainly if I'm in good shape and they ask for my services I will consider it.'' Trott has been around long enough to remember how Colts earned the bridesmaid label.

"When people were writing us off and saying we were bridesmaids, these players showed that they weren't that,'' said Trott.

"In fact, this club has won all of the trophies that are out there. They can still call us bridesmaids, but we'll just keep winning the trophies from now on.'' Champions again: Devonshire Colts players, officials and spectators pose on the grounds of the Cabinet office yesterday after receiving citations from Acting Premier, Eugene Cox, for winning the FA Cup final on Sunday.