No, not joking at all. That shit went on for about three years, as the better players played in Arthur Suite's league.
I think Jack and Suite finally solved the problem about late 88 to salvage TT for the WC qualifiers.
To make matter worse, when we tried to qualify for the 86 WC, Jack sold our home games so we had to play the opponents twice in THEIR backyard. I think we lost to the US twice in the US, very close games. So Ron La Fores, Leroy Spann and others real get screwed.
It's becz most players were persona non grata that Alli and Sheppard made their debut vs. Mex.
I'm not sure if the Sweden game was a Second 11, because Clint Marcelle made his international debut in that game.
I will tell you that Suite's league had FAR greater appeal than the TTFA league. All the local stars and Refs were paid on time etc. ASL was the Manu U of my era. Only Defence Force could give them a good run. Not that there weren't other good teams around but the League and FA were usually between DF and ASL.
I am sure Coops could give you more info on that :-)
VB