Not many would disagree with me when I stated that the just concluded 2009/10 Premier Division football competition was quite an improvement over the previous season and maybe even over quite a number of other seasons as well.

The just ended competition, in my opinion, was more competitive and produced a number of interesting individual efforts that lent to the entire overall competitiveness among the 10 competing teams. The entire atmosphere at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) this season, where you could feel the rivalry on the field spilling over into the stands, also served to improve the entire level of play.

A number of teams to include champions BASSA, Old Road, All Saints United, Hoppers and newcomers Goldsmitty produced the type of football that left patrons feeling like they had received their monies worth.

The 2009/10 domestic season started a bit sluggish with teams, save for BASSA, Old Road and Hoppers struggling to find form. Hoppers, who were victorious in their first three outings, seemed as if they had serious intentions of challenging for the title but faltered somewhere at the middle of the competition. BASSA and Old Road however, set early trends and were in contention for the title from start to finish.

On the other side of the coin, however, the teams at the bottom of the table failed to impress throughout and Parham, after having acquired one point in the entire first round, sparked heated debates when they moved to import in excess of 11 overseas players, replacing their entire original team in some instances.

The move was the most talked about issue during the Premier Division with arguments being offered both for and against the unprecedented move and although most condemned the move, it was one that eventually saved the former champions from relegation into the First Division while exposing supporters to a different brand of play.

The most impressive team, in my opinion, throughout the competition, has been the Goldsmitty team. Goldsmitty, who gained promotion in 2008/9 through the playoff system, managed to step up their game and perform at an unexpected high level while the two teams who had gained automatic promotion, Potters and Willikies, failed to impress.

The Goldsmitty coach, St. Claire “Nashie” Christian, in my opinion will be a prime candidate for the coach of the year award when the FA hosts its 2009/10 awards ceremony.

Despite a slow start, the Goldsmitty men who had picked up only one point in the first five outings, rebounded remarkably going into the latter stages of the first round and managed to hold their own in the second round with six victories and three losses – a commendable performance by any measure.

The league, nearing its completion, was also rocked by news that popular coach, George “Caja” Warner had been suspended by the BASSA team and that he had later been sacked. The news sparked some debate with arguments to support both BASSA and Warner emerging.

The All Saints men went on to capture the Premier Division title but could not take home the $20,000 cash prize up for grabs in the Super 8 competition. The Super 8 was won by the Old Road team with BASSA finishing second and SAP placing third.

In my final analysis, the Premier Division showed major improvement over the previous year with the teams producing a level of play that majority of the patrons seemed satisfied with.