Former national footballer, cricketer dies at age 76

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has lost another of its household names in sports.

Dead is former national footballer, national cricketer and national football coach Fred Trimmingham, who passed away last Saturday, following a brief illness at the age of 76.{{more}}

Trimmingham was set to be one of two honorees at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Breakaway Masters Firms Football Tournament at the Grammar School Playing Field, August 6.

Known to some persons as “Garrincha” or “Ole Bull”, names he gained more so for his exploits in football, Trimmingham was a fierce competitor who possessed a very strong tackle, as a defender or as a midfielder.

Possessing a ‘take no prisoners’ approach, Trimmingham drove fear into several forwards, who dared not venture close to him while in the defence for Pastures, as well as Notre Dame.

As a cricketer, Trimmingham was an off spinner and a belligerent lower order batsman, who played for Sheffield in the local Fraser Neckles Division and for the St Vincent and the Grenadines team in the late 1960s, early 1970s.

Trimmingham represented a band of players then who wore national colours in both football and cricket, among them at the time were Mike Findlay, Carl Glasgow (deceased), Colville Browne and Stanley Hinds.

Trimmingham, after his active football days came to an end, took up coaching, mainly with the Pastures team, which is now known as BESCO Pastures.

Elevation to national coach came for Trimmingham, as he guided SVG to the top of the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) in 1986.

One of Fred Trimmingham’s sons, Cornelius Huggins, followed his football path, as he was also a stalwart defender for SVG and up until last month was the senior football team’s head coach.

Another of Trimmingham’s offspring, Marlon Huggins, also represented SVG from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s.

Trimmingham’s death is the third of former national footballers in the last nine months.

Before him, were Tyrone “Tweety” Spence in October last year and “Keith “Slick” Bonadie-Clarke April last.(RT)