The Somerset Eagles have landed.

But they are already readying for take-off as they ponder next season's jump into the First Division.

And despite being thwarted in their bid for a Shield and promotion when they were knocked out of the Shield by Prospect on Tuesday night emotions continue to run high at the west end club.

Eagles, after being forced to endure a tense, week-long wait, were confirmed for advancement to the top flight on Sunday when Wolves upset Social Club, who would have gone up had they won.

Yesterday, long-serving team member and goalkeeper Kevin Simons said the team wasn't just satisfied to stay in the First Division after next season, they are aiming for the ultimate prize.

"Right now the First Division is looking very bad and I think once we get up we can prove to people that we have a coach that can teach a couple of the younger players how to play and I know we can go far.. .I'm looking for the league title next year,'' said Simons, who at 42 is looking at retirement following the 1995-96 season.

"It was a great feeling being promoted. We get a chance to be in First Division now and prove to a lot of people that we can get up there and show them how to play soccer.'' However, while such confidence is admirable, for Eagles it would appear that survival ought to be the first goal.

Just ask Devonshire Cougars or BAA, two sides that fell prey to the yo-yo effect, being relegated a year after being promoted.

Eagles know all too well this reality as their two most recent forays into the upper echelon resulted in failure and a swift return to the lower rung.

Simons admitted that the side would have to be fortified over the summer, which would likely mean recruiting new talent to go with the likes of veterans Sammy Maybury, Terrence Christopher and Warren Iris.

"It's a lot of hard work we have to do this summer to improve our game,'' he said. "We've got to change our game totally for First Division, because playing in the Second Division is a lot different and we'll have to step it up about three or four more notches to stay up there and hopefully win the First Division.

"We need a few players. I think we'll be picking up a few players at the same time.'' Already rumours are flourishing as to who those players might include.

Mentioned are young striker Lamaul Crofton and midfielder Randy Simmons, two current members of parish rivals Somerset Trojans.

There have been mass exodus in the past between the two clubs, however, these normally involved fringe players who failed to make any significant impact either way.

One thing for certain is that a clear rivalry exists between the pair, which promises some excitement for all concerned when they meet.

"It's been a rivalry as long as I've been living between the two teams and it's always going to be a rivalry,'' said Simons. "I think that's what makes it so great when two Somerset teams are in First Division, you have a great rivalry that makes one of the teams play much better and forces the other to play just as well and hard, so you have both teams fighting against each other and this is carried over to the other teams in the First Division.'' A key to this year's success according to Simons was the arrival of coach Gary (Tuba) Mallory, who brought First Division experience and a more disciplined approach to soccer at the club.

Nevertheless, the team struggled at first, as they tried to adapt to a new system, with the low coming when they were eliminated from the FA Cup by Commercial Division outfit Robin Hood 4-1 at home.

Gradually they came around and were almost perfect down the stretch.

Said Simons: "With Tuba coming on and talking to the players, getting to know the players it inspired them to realise that we could do it and get into the First Division.

"Just him being there caused a lot of the younger players to look up and say `well look, he's played in the First Division already and knows what he's talking about' and he got the other players to perform as well.

"The key thing to getting us there was winning the most important games, the last five or six we had to play. Out of six games we got 10 points, losing only one to Police. That was it right there.

"The first half we were just going through it and not really putting much into it, the second half we decided `hey, we can win this league or at least come up into the First Division' and decided we must play harder.'' Next season will provide an even stiffer task.

Kevin Simons