Bitter-Sweet Football Memories of the 70s

The Magnificent 7
Wayne Austin,,Paul Correia, Redvers Lampkin, Mark Rodrigues
Steveright Benjamin, Malcolm Barrington (Captain), Stephen Boodhoo





The 1979 Senior Football Team
June 25th, 1979 (Final)
Andrew Fraser, Royden Gibbs, Ursalam Kazam, Mark Hohenkirk, Alan La Rose (Capt.), Bill Brown, James Henry
Cardon Pompey, Peter Correia, Chris Woodroofe, Jonathan Yearwood, Gregory Roberts, Robert Scotland
Absent: Peter King

 

Proud Decade for Saints

by: Ras Abdalla Tafari Wadada

It is arguably the period that best underlined the rich football pedigree of St. Stanislaus College - the 70s

The decade was graced with football success yet to be matched and more importantly, a number of significant changes, if not historical were made to one of Guyana's elite high schools, owned and controlled by the Catholic Church since 1867.  New opportunities were added to the school's curriculum - Agriculture Science and a Farm, a Technical  Workshop catering for Masonry, Carpentry, Metal Works, and Technical Drawing; a Steel Band comprised of students and the admission of females to the previously All-Boys school.  More importantly, the then Principal, Fr. Kenneth Khan, a past student, was removed in 1980 from the position he had held since 1972.  Fr. Khan was very supportive of our footballing efforts, if not proud of the achievements.

During the various transformations at St. Stanislaus in the 70s a number of football talents proved their abilities and worth to the extent that the College fielded an Under-16 team in the Georgetown inter-club tournaments and performed admirably.  The high-point year must be 1975 when there was double delight - winning the Georgetown Inter-High Schools and the inaugural Caricom Day seven-a side tournament. The "Magnificent Seven" that prevailed on July 7th from among the 20 club teams from the City was led by Michael Barrington and included Paul Correia, Stevewright Benjamin, Wayne Austin, Mark Rodrigues, Stephen Boodhoo, and "Player of the Tournament" Redvers 'Bertie' Lampkin.

It was less than four months before that Saints had triumphed 1-0 over Chatam High School in a final replay to stamp their authority and superiority among the high schools to capture the John Fernandes Cup. 

In the latter half of the 70s, Saints not only provided a suitable venue for inter-schools football, but also lots of players to the Georgetown District Junior and Senior Teams playing in the Guyana Teachers Association annual inter-branch tournaments. Goalkeepers Chris Woodroofe, Owen Wilkinson, Nigel Hughes, Luke Abraham, and Steve Benjamin all represented the City as well as Peter Correia, Robert Scotland, James Henry, Mark Da Silva, and yours truly.

The climaxing of the decade reached unprecedented heights when both the Junior and Senior teams qualified for Georgetown inter-schools finals in 1979.  Only South Georgetown Secondary who did likewise in 1976, can also boast of such an enviable record.

The Senior Team of  '79 was blessed with the guidance and direction of former students Wayne 'Beamah' Austin and Malcolm Barrington.  The journey to Championship began in a spirit of unity, and training sessions were well attended.  The team had a touch of international flavour with the likes of James Henry (England) and Edmundo Vallenas (Peru) who both played for the Junior Team as well, and Antiguan Robert Scotland who was named "Footballer of the Year" 1979.