players, served as the highest level in the Trinidad and Tobago football league system. However, it was during this period Trinidad and Tobago experienced an upswing in support for football following a rise in international success at both club and national team levels. In 1985, Defence Force became only the second team from CONCACAF to accomplish the continental treble after the club won the National League, FA Trophy, and CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Coupled with the Strike Squad's near qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, optimism for the country's first appearance at the World Cup was at an all-time high. However, the early 1990s marked a low point in Trinidad and Tobago football. In 1993, after a streak of poor performances, the Soca Warriors gave its worst ever showing in the Caribbean Cup after finishing a disappointing third, which was preceded with an early exit from its 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification attempt. In response, Trinidadian and former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner spoke out describing Trinidad and Tobago's football as being "in shambles" and crowd support was "non-existent". Foundation (1994–1998) In November 1995, Jack Warner proposed that creating a professional league to produce homegrown players would function as the building blocks to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. In fact, speaking on the importance of a professional league for the future, Warner stated "professionalism or death for Trinidad and Tobago football." His proposal, which included the clubs' ability to operate as business entities, laid the foundation for professional football in Trinidad and Tobago. In order to successfully develop a professional football league in the country, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association established the Semi-Professional League in 1996 to provide teams and players with a semi-professional environment, as they transitioned during a three-year period for life in a professional league. In particular, clubs were issued three important criteria that would be used for professional league admission: The incoming club must show proof of a home venue to stage matches, The incoming club must provide a minimum wage of TT$2,000 per month to a contracted player, The incoming club must have a minimum of sixteen (16) contracted players, a manager, and a physiotherapist. After the final season of the Semi-Professional League, several clubs were denied admission after failing to meet the aforementioned criteria. Clubs were also faced with supplying the professional league a bank draft guaranteeing TT$400,000 for admission.