THE curtains came down on a successful season with the presentation and awards ceremony for The Captain’s Bakery and Grill St Thomas Major League, James Robertson Knockout competition and the Dr Ferguson Division Two league at the Village Green Restaurant in Morant Bay on August 28.

Principal of The Captain’s Bakery and Grill, Captain Horace Burrell, lauded the St Thomas FA for the introduction of night football. He reflected on the night of the final, reiterating that the crowd is the largest he has seen at a Major League final.

“I must congratulate the St Thomas FA for a well-run season and, of course, the night football initiative that has been a big hit with fans. I have been to these games and I must say it’s a most wonderful experience, and I can only see it getting bigger and better. Other parishes should also find creative ways to engage the interest of the fans, and the Captain’s Bakery and Grill will always applaud initiatives like this,” Burrell told the Jamaica Observer.

Burrell also directed praise to two other major sponsors — Members of Parliament James Robertson and Dr Fenton Ferguson — for their sterling contribution to the development of the sport in the parish.

The JFF president said that, based on the high quality of the football product in St Thomas, his company will remain a benefactor.

President of the St Thomas FA, Wayne Thompson, in the opening remarks, highlighted some of the achievements over the last year. The jewel in the crown, the night football initiative, came in for special mention.

According to Thompson, who was re-elected unopposed as president on Saturday, said night football not only provided tremendous financial benefits to the clubs, but also opportunities for small entrepreneurs, particularly in food, beverages and transportation.

The FA boss also singled out electricity supplier JPS for their support during the night games. The other important achievement over the season is the improvement in the administration of the competitions; the women’s, youth and grassroots programmes.

Still, Thompson pointed to challenges facing the organisation, especially the weakening club structure, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient financial support. In the same breath, he thanked the current partners who remain true to football in the parish.

Financial controller of The Captain’s Bakery and Grill, Wayne Soltou, reminded the gathering that the company has been supporting St Thomas football for 10 unbroken years, and he underlined that the company has demonstrated its commitment by staying on board in a harsh economic environment that has put the squeeze on Jamaican businesses.

MP Robertson, who attended the function, also pledged continuous support. The night’s guest speaker, Attorney-at-Law, Celia Barclay, said many valuable life lessons can be learnt from sport and football in particular.

She explained that most people go bankrupt and businesses go ‘belly up’ because of a failure to approach life, the market and their challenges in the right way. She suggested that all should approach life and business the way you approach football to have the same success off the field as on the field.

Meanwhile, the James Robertson Knockout Trophy went to Port Morant United, while the Dr Fenton Ferguson Division Two, Baptist Alliance.

But the big winner on the night was Bath Sports Club who was presented with The Captain’s Bakery and Grill Trophy and $100,000, runner-up Port Morant United collected $60,000, third place and $30,000 went to Delta Force YC and Fourth Place to Seaforth Sports Club and $20,000.

The mid-season honours went to Seaforth. The top goalscorer award went to Otis Ffriend of York United with 13 goals.

Long service awards were presented to Richard Strachan with over 10 years of service on the executive of the FA, outstanding contribution by a coach award went to Michael Bennett and Wilton Maxwell was awarded

for outstanding contribution to the youth programme.