Somerset’s flawless under-17 football team put the finishing touches to the perfect season with a convincing win over Dandy Town in the Appleby KO Cup final at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Sunday.

Goals from Rio Russell, Enrique Mendes and Kee-Zai Cann powered the west enders to a 3-0 triumph to complete an impressive league and cup double with the team going undefeated in both competitions.

“I am extremely pleased with the group. I think they have been very committed and dedicated to the growth of the team,” said coach Danvers Seymour Jr.

“We won the league convincingly and went undefeated and for them to go and win this KO cup brings pride to the community.”

Seymour attributes the team’s success to the values and pride that the coaching staff have instilled in the players early in their development.

“I think the key to success is us building the foundation from young as players that have come through the Somerset programme,” he explained. “One of the key aspects and components is to build pride in the community and that these players want to play for Somerset and no one else.”

Seymour reckons the club’s future is in good hands with this crop of youngsters soon to join the first-team ranks.

“I feel like we are in the process of taking this programme to another level,” he said. “With Dennis Brown being the technical director, we have relationships with people and clubs overseas and are creating pathways for the youngsters, but at the same time we have to develop good footballers on island, we have to make sure on island that they have what they need in order to excel.”

Seymour is driven by an ambition to restore Somerset to former glories and enhance the local game.

“That’s what we are working towards and the Under-15s have also done well,” he said. “They won their league, so we are progressing and moving forward and it’s just about continuing to stay positive, staying committed to our task and growing the club to a top level.”

Somerset’s Under-17 have also shown they can bounce back from disappointment after losing out to Robin Hood in the league and cup final last season.

“We were in a dogfight last year with Robin Hood,” Seymour said. “We chased them right to the end of the season and they pinched us. Last year we also went to the KO Cup final and Robin Hood beat us bad.

“This year I think we went to another level and they were hungry and eager to succeed. The boys have worked hard and some of them have already been involved in the senior set-up.”

Somerset have enjoyed considerable success at all levels as their women’s team also won the league and cup double, while their senior men’s team lifted the Dudley Eve Trophy.

“We have had a really, really good year and we just need to keep our feet on the ground because you are only as good as your next game, not what you have already done,” Seymour stressed

“The standards have to be upheld and we can’t dwell on things we have done, we have to continue to move forward to continue to excel.”

Seymour thanked fellow coaches Gary Adams, Vashon Blanchette and Omari Dill along with team managers and club administrators for their valuable support.

“I just want to hail all of them who have helped it happen and big credit to the players because they have stepped up and have grown tremendously,” he added.