Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
WHILE ST. JAMES is no longer a commanding force in NPL football, St. James FA president Lennox Wallace thinks the game is on track at the parish level as the parish remains a dominant force at the Western Confederation level with some six teams.
"Although we are not as strong as before in the NPL, we can still take pride in what is happening at the domestic level," said Wallace, as he addressed sponsors and affiliates at last Thursday's official launch of the 2004-2005 St. James FA season.
"We are doing quite well at the youth level and we are quite strong at the confederation level with six teams."
FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE
From a financial perspective, St. James is also strong, as over $3 million in sponsorship have been committed for the season, which will see the playing of six major competitions, among other lesser competitions. Heading the list of competitions is the Hart Shield Senior League, which has been around since 1927.
"We are fully committed to serving St. James football and sports in general in the parish," said Tony Bowen, a representative of the Hart Group of Companies. "We will be in it for the long haul as we seek to assist the football association in recapturing the glory days when the parish was second to none."
The other sponsors and their respective competitions are as follows: Sandals Group of Companies Sandals Division One; Guardian Life The Guardian Life Division Two; Dhering, Bunting and Golding The DB&G Under-13; Lennox Lewis The Lennox Lewis Under-12 and Under-15; Discount Lumber and Hardware The Discount Lumber & Hardware KO competition; Steve Bucknor The Steve Bucknor KO Competition and Western Sports Limited.
"We are grateful to all our sponsors as without them we would not be able to play all these competitions," said Wallace, who is in the second month of his first term as president. "Our aim is to take the football to a higher level, treat the fans to good football and perhaps most importantly, give the sponsors value for their money."
