Chapelton hopeful after new move

After cutting ties with the Clarendon Football Association and re-establishing their alliance with the St Ann Football Association, Chapelton Maroons are eyeing what club president Kaycie Butler believes could be their best season yet in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

Chapelton were forced to abandon their original home at Turners Oval after Cavalier purchased the property.

Butler admitted that moving the club from the community it has represented for more than 40 years was a difficult decision. Nevertheless, she believes the move will have a positive impact.

“We will play at Drax Hall this season. I think it is going to be a really good impact.

“We were forced to leave Clarendon because we no longer had a home ground there. So while we love and appreciate the people of Clarendon, we are happy to keep the name of the club and to keep the relationship when we bought the club.

“However, when we looked at our options, Phoenix St Ann had already been playing in the league in St Ann for many years and we’ve maintained our affiliation.

“So we were more than happy to return to Drax Hall and to the people of St Ann. Whenever we play, the stadium is always packed. So we are happy to have them as fans and we want to represent the parish of St Ann,” she said.

During the transfer window, Chapelton acquired centre-back Josiah Tremmingham and Trinidadian wingers Trevis Byron and Josiah Edward, along with Cameroon international Albright Wesley Tala Suh.

The club also added Leonard Rankin and Bryan Brown from Montego Bay United, as well as free-agent central midfielder Tevin Shaw.

They will strengthen a squad that already includes Robinho Gordon, Zhaine Pinnock, Nathaniel Howe, Denzel McKenzie, Sean Leighton, Levaughn Williams and Jason Wright.

With the squad they have assembled, the experience they have gained and the level of support they expect at their new home, Butler said the Maroons are ready to challenge for the JPL title this season.

“The team is loaded with talent and we are very excited about the prospects. The team looks very strong and we are looking forward to challenging for this year’s Premier League.

“We always say we are going to win the league. The first year we didn’t do so great. The second year we almost made it and the third year we usually come up to the top.

“We did that with the Manning Cup and we are doing the same procedure with the Premier League. So we are looking forward to being up there next season,” she said.