Long-serving President of the St Ann Football Association Danny Beckford will today face another challenge to his stewardship as the parish’s football boss.

Beckford, a former referee, will have two challengers for the post of president when David Galloway and Vanie Clarke move to unseat him at a poll slated for Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann, today.

The proceedings are expected to get underway at 2:00 pm.

This is Galloway’s second attempt to oust Beckford, but the former complained that his last bid was severely hampered when members of his slate were reportedly prevented from entering the voting site at the St Ann Parish Library in 2014.

Beckford, as usual, seemed unfazed by the new round of challenges.

“We welcome all challengers, and if they can do a better job than our team, then we will support their efforts. Football must win at the end of the day,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Beckford has held the position as president for the past 12 years after serving as general secretary for 10 years prior, taking his combined years of service in football administration in the parish to 22 years.

He has also served as chairman of the Eastern Confederation from 1994-1998.

Galloway, who appears to be the stronger of the two challengers, said he is confident of victory this time around.

“I am very much confident of succeeding and I am fully prepared this time and the people of St Ann are asking for a change.

“They (football community) need new ideas, new minds and new faces. They need to see more things happening related to the development of football in the parish,” said Galloway.

The other candidate for president, Clarke at today’s congress — where the victor will become the first to serve a four-term presidency which was recently introduced — said the football constituency of St Ann had bought into the vision of his team, therefore he is expected to be triumphant.

“My team has been putting in a lot of work by meeting and sharing our vision with the affiliated clubs as to where the football should be going in St Ann and in Jamaica by extension,” he said.

Clarke shares that he was inspired to throw his hat into the ring after witnessing first-hand a stagnation in the grassroots programme and football in the parish on a whole.

“What prompted me to challenge him is my observation after working with the youth in the parish for over 15 years and not seeing an effective development programme put in place by the current administration. I think it’s my duty to put a programme in place that is going to facilitate football for the kids,” he said.

The position of first vice-president, currently held by Marlon Mendez, will be contested by Richard Johnson, while Rudolph Cox and Everton Stewart will challenge the incumbent Sherlock Thorney for the second vice-president post.

Lenroy Hinds and Fabian Sterling from the challenging teams will seek to get the electors’ approval over Kimone Heholt for the post of treasurer, while Malikha Houslin and Constance Cunningham will take aim at Debbie Parkes for the assistant secretary/treasurer.

For the position of public relations officer, Errol Waite and Clive Graham will tackle the sitting Marlon Spence.

Fifty-four delegates are eligible to cast their votes.

— Bev Melbourne