Sports Tales
The stage was set; the venue was the Victoria Park. Barrouallie folks were out in their numbers recently to support the local boys at the finals of the Inter-Community Football League at the park and, what a moment it was.{{more}}
Cricket, like football, has the names which made Barrouallie proud. I can think of Vibert Bute, Ian Alleyne and Lance John. My friend Nigel Frederick lives and breathes cricket, and I often ask him why he didnât try the game at higher levels. His specialty, though, is soft ball cricket. A left-hander, one can depend on Nigel aka “Zeroâ/”Worrelâ for cricket stats and information. He mentioned that teams such as Rebels, Underdogs, Verbs, Keartonâs United, Old Boys, Hill View, Pepper Seed and Three Acres graced the field at different eras and that Phillip Charles, Brother Price, Lenford Oliver, Buddy Doug, Kendol, Scounge and CP were names associated with the game, among others of course. He recalls that Baga Blazers was a team selected from the cream of the crop and who toured mainland St Vincent playing games.
Of course, the name Lance John is one which is synonymous with cricket. I asked Lance to share his story and he willing consented. Before, during and after his cricketing career, Lance John worked as a teacher at the Barrouallie Anglican School (1970-73), with the Police band (1974-1977) and the RSVGPF (1977-1980). He later worked at the ECGC from (1983-2006). From there Lance worked at the Port Authority from 2006-2012. However, while he had these work experiences, his love for cricket appears to rival them all.
John developed from the local youth squad in 1976, through to the Windwards youth in 1977, onto the senior Windwards squad in 1980. When the Combined Islands played their final session in 1981 and won the tournament, Lance John was a member. John was a permanent fixture on the Windwards team until his retirement. He also served as captain of the Windwards and national cricket teams. He was also manager/coach of the local youth team and selector of the Windwards youth team in 1984 and 1985.
In his heyday as an athlete, John served as president of the Barrouallie Sports Association for many years and represented the Barrouallie Football team in national competitions as a goalkeeper. He also conducted cricket coaching clinics in Barrouallie.
John boasts a long and distinguished career, but the dominance of the opening pair of Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge acted as an obstacle to his elevation to the West Indies team. That of course, was unfortunate for a man who had excelled at his sport. Lance John, former national and Windwards youth, senior and Combined Islands opening batsman hit his last regional shot in the match against Jamaica at Sabina Park on February 23, 1992. He was afforded a standing ovation and applauded by the entire Jamaican squad and specatators at the end of his innings. I do believe that he will be called out again at the local level.
Like John, I am exiting from the tales of different eras, but not retiring entirely, as I plan to continue in a different medium. As such, this is the penultimate of them allâ¦.. so until next week, Godâs will.
Angelic_boldeyes@yahoo.com
Comments
