Kingston, July 19 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange says she is deeply saddened by the death of former national footballer, Bancroft Gordon, who had been visiting from the United States where he lived after leaving home soil.

Gordon died at the age of 66 years.

Minister Grange said, “So sad that Bancroft who was one of the guests at the Porus Football Festival in Manchester on Sunday and actually played in the exhibition football match, died two days later.”

“He was so talented that he represented his alma mater, Excelsior High School, in five sports before settling on football as his final focus and went to represent Jamaica from 1976-79. He also played professional soccer in the US [United States] for two years. Bancroft also distinguished himself as a lawyer and was employed by the Fortune 500 corporation, Marriott International Inc. as its vice president, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary and was also a board member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce,” Grange said.

She added that what has proved to be his last visit to the country along with his continued assistance to the national team as well as to various club teams, showed that his love for football in Jamaica remained strong to the end.

“My condolences to Bancroft’s family members, associates and to the football fraternity,” the minister said.