Rescue job under way

St Mary Football Association president, James Pearson, spoke like a man with the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders, upbeat and spritely, announcing this Sunday as the start of the parish’s Major League after agonising in an April 9 Gleaner interview that its cash-strapped football programme could collapse.

“They say it’s never too late for a shower of rain,” Pearson exclaimed, confirming that shortly after The Gleaner article appeared, Robert Montague, member of parliament, St Mary Western, rang him up with assistance to get the Major League under way.

“We wanted to start from Sunday, the 19th, but had some other things to put in place. However, Sunday coming, the 26th, we will have our launch and kick-off with a double-header at Westmoreland Oval in Annotto Bay, starting at 2:30 p.m.,” said an excited Pearson, who had lamented that the St Mary Major League had gone unsponsored for three consecutive years and was on the brink of throwing in the towel at the risk of severe sanctions from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

However, Montague, a St Mary native, dived in to block the JFF’s penalty by gathering $500,000 “from a couple friends and family” to keep the St Mary FA in the game.

“The minister, who is my member of parliament as well, called me after the article appeared. He was asking questions about the budget and so forth. Based on what we had discussed, I figured some assistance would come our way,” said Pearson.

Montague not only garnered funds but has also reached out to a sponsor, McKay Security, who caught his attention with its head-turning $9.6m sponsorship of the Kingston and St Andrew and St Thomas football associations.

“We have been looking at what is happening in St Thomas and are hoping that McKay Security, through Dr Jason McKay, will put some money on the $500,000,” said Montague, noting how St Thomas will benefit from a $5.1 million deal with McKay Security, including prize money of $1m to winners of the association’s Major League.

Pearson grew even more animated on hearing of Montague’s appeal to McKay Security.

“Anywhere the help comes from, we would be grateful for it,” he said.

“It is commendable that the member of parliament has seen it fit to not only assist with cash but also to reach out to a possible sponsor.”

Montague has bigger plans for the St Mary FA, describing football as a “playfield leveller”.

“We believe we have the next big footballer in St Mary to follow Clifton Waugh,” Montague said, referring to the big defender who was a part of Jamaica’s squad to the 1998 World Cup in France.

“Sports is something I believe in, especially football. As long as you have a ball you can play, unlike other sports that require far more. All you need is a God-given talent. Dr Kornel Brown, a son of the parish, is another example. Football allowed him to get a scholarship and he read for his doctorate.

“I am trying to create a rescue package for the parish but I need other entities, for example McKay Security, to help with the Major League and others to help with other programmes,” Montague appealed, adding that he also has plans to complete a mini-stadium in Oracabessa, as well as bringing other government agencies on board to expose footballers to life skills.

Music to Pearson’s ears, the FA president vowed that the Major League will be completed in time for St Mary to participate in the northern region Tier 2 play-offs.

“We will start our Major League and finish in time for the champions to meet winners from the other two northern parishes, St Ann and Portland, from which I know we will advance to Tier 2,” Pearson confidently stated, predicting that another St Mary team will soon join Gray’s Inn in Tier 2.

“It looks like we will have seven teams in the Major League. The plan is to have some double-headers during the week and on weekends,” he added.