PORT ANTONIO, Portland — St George’s Football Club was the toast of the Portland FA Awards Ceremony Wednesday night at the Frenchman’s Cove Hotel.

They walked away with $190,000 and the Portland Credit Union Knockout and Western Union trophies.

In bringing greetings, Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Benny White committed himself to $100,000 sponsorship next season and asked that it be used to develop the sport in his area (Rio Grande Valley).

He said: “I can tell you that next year this time you will have me here as I am not rich, but very poor, but I am going to make a commitment of $100,000. The bias I will have is my sponsorship to help with games in the Rio Grande Valley.”

President of the Portland FA Raymond Grant highlighted the parish’s staging of the FIFA Grassroot Programme and the commitment to develop female sport as its successes.

“We must be proud of the successful launch of our grassroot (programme) at CASE in June of this year... better days are ahead for our

football, we have seen the disappointment of St George’s Sports Club, let us use their experience as a pillow on which to build going forward,” he said.

Hope Bay were adjudged the Most Improved Team in the Western Union Major League and Buff Bay for the Portland Credit Union knockout, while St George’s coach Donald Stewart named the winning coach.

Titchfield High school topped the Daryl Vaz women’s league for the third year in a row, but Fair Prospect High were not outdone as they received a number of sectional awards for Fair Play and Most Organised Team.

West Portland Member of Parliament, Daryl Vaz, was awarded the Platinum Award for his sponsorship of the women’s league for the past three years, which Titchfield High School won on all occasions. Hugh Rankine was deemed the Top Referee.