Canadian university Mount Allison 'Mounties' arrive on the Island later this weekend ahead of a series of matches against local opposition, while also honouring their founder ¿ Bermuda's own Clarence Terceira.

Their schedule during their week-long stay includes a matches against a Bermuda Under-23 select team at the newly opened BFA Field, as well as First Division club Somerset Trojans and a High School Select side.

It will be Bermuda Under-23s' first preparation match before their series of games against Bermuda Hogges' United Soccer League's opposition this summer as they prepare for their Pan Am and Olympic qualifiers.

Technical director Derek Broadley, youth director Devarr Boyles and Scott Morton will oversee and select the squad.

Bermuda and Mount Allison soccer go back many years with Terceira, known as locally "Tessi" founding the first intercollegiate soccer team at Mount Allison, Sackville, New Brunswick, 60 years ago.

Terceira managed to put a winning combination together as his 'Mounties' went on to clinch the first championship title of the Maritime Inter-Universities Athletic Union (MIAU), with a 3-0 victory over Acadia University in 1948.

A former Saltus Grammar School graduate, he was not only a player, but the coach, a captain, and the team's manager.

Some of the Bermudian Mounties who have contributed to the success of Mount Allison's soccer programme over the years include such players as Larry Madeiros, Rick Thompson, Ken Siggins, George Shaw, Michael Scott, Rob Steynor, Lynn Hall, Darren Johnston, Allan Young, and Vince Chaves.

Coach Barry Cooper leads today's Mounties. He said: "We are so lucky to be backed by our University and its administration, our athletic department, and our generous alumni around the world ¿ especially in Bermuda.

"The contribution by all these groups has been instrumental in our success thus far, and our opportunity to train abroad. We thank them immensely."

The team hosted the 2008 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference soccer championships in early November and although they did not win, they fought hard in a tough quarter-final before losing 2-0 to the eventual winners, Dalhousie Tigers.

Mount Allison play a Bermuda Under-23 select team at 7pm They also take on Somerset Trojans at BFA on Wednesday at –7pm, and a High School All-Star team at 1pm. All matches will be played at BFA Field.