MONTEGO BAY, St James – INSPORTS’ development officer for St James, Jerry’s dream, is planning to realise a dream that will see more participation on the part of the community in the several programmes of his organisation this year.

“We are going to be strengthening our focus on the younger children, starting with the Under-8 age group for track and field events at the end of February as well as the establishment of separate football leagues for boys and girls in the under-12 age group,” he told the Observer West.

A veteran sportsman, Reid who was born in 1945 in Montego Bay, is well-known for his numerous exploits in football, cricket and track and field.

An ordained deacon in the Seventh Day Adventist Farm Heights Church who recently celebrated 25 years of marriage to Delores nee Locke, he cuts a familiar figure among the second city’s youth several of whom he has been coaching in various capacities for decades.

” If we can get everyone to come on board with whatever support they can, we will all benefit, because sports has the power to unite the people…don’t you realise that one of the happiest times for a country is during the various sporting events?… The most important thing for me right now is to see the development of the sport in St James and to pass on what I have learnt over the years,” he said.

‘Over the years’ refers to over four decades, most of which have been spent with Insports which he joined in 1972.

It was called the Sports Development Division (SDD) then and Reid was an avid young sportsman who captained the football and cricket youth teams in St James.

But it was in cricket that he shone the brightest, representing the island’s western zone at the Melbourne cricket club.

“It was a good time for me, I remember opening with Sam Morgan at Melbourne Park. We made 311 runs between the two of us, 11 short of the all-time record,” he recalled laughing. “Then came my big break in the 60’s when I was selected for what was then the ‘B’ team to play against England. This was the step to getting on the big team. I made some runs, but I didn’t make it,” he said.

Nevertheless, Reid went on to distinguish himself as a selector for Jamaica’s under-19 cricket team which he coached from 1988-1996. He experienced several successes during that period, among them the recapture, after several years of the Northern Telecom trophy.

Today he’s still got game, as the reigning male national and caribbean champion of senior track and field.

And he believes that with the right encouragement, much more of the city’s youth can realise their potential to develop into sporting greats.

“I was able to build on the several opportunities that came from sports. My greatest wish right now is to see the same happen for others, so that they can develop their lives through sport too,” he said.