Vassell Reynolds might not be considered yet a man ahead of his time. But one thing is for sure, he is ahead of Kingston College’s time.

Reynolds, who was asked by Kingston College (KC) in 2023 to repair a depleted football programme that lost 14 players, to make them competitive, took a young team to the Manning Cup semi-finals in his first year. One year later, he guided the ‘Famed Purples’ to urban schoolboy football supremacy.

Reynolds, a normally conservative coach, reflects on his monumental achievement attained against the odds.

“Very pleasing the fact that the project became a total rebuilding one and for it blossoming so early, it’s a tremendous feeling,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“We had to be always mindful of the high-pressure environment and some amount of patience would have been required and while we rebuild we were preparing to be as competitive as possible,” he added.

Administrators and Kingston College players celebrate winning the Manning Cup after defeating St Catherine High 3-1 in the final on Friday, December 6, 2024. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

KC ended a 32-year Manning Cup title drought in 2018 and won again in 2021, but in 2023 lost the core of their squad as five players transferred to Jamaica College, two to St Catherine High, and one each to St George’s College, Hydel High and Mount Pleasant Academy, while four left early for junior colleges in the United States.

“To have been a part of a rebuilding programme that displays this level of growth from being in the semis last year and win the title the following (year) speaks volumes of the success so far,” he pointed out.

“I give lots of credit to the entire coaching and management staff for the dedicated support and the school’s admin. The players must be praised for their hard work,” he added.

KC, founded in 1925 and celebrating 100 years, gained their 17th lien on the Manning Cup first contested in 1909 and which they first won in 1949.

Alex Suazo (on ground) of Mona High tackles Kimani Reece of Kingston College during the Manning Cup quarter-final-round match at Stadium East on Friday, November 15. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The North Street, Kingston-based school defeated most people’s pre-season favourites St Catherine High 3-1 in the final for their third title in the last six years.

They are third all-time behind JC with 31 titles and St George’s College with 22, with Wolmer’s Boys sitting in fourth on 10 titles.

This was coach Reynolds’ first Manning Cup title after coming close with Hydel High and Wolmer’s.

He now joins an elite crew of coaches to win both the urban Manning Cup and the rural daCosta Cup having led Rusea’s High from Hanover to victory in 2017. Only four coaches before achieved the unique.

Englishman Derryck Thomkinson won with Jamaica College from 1961 to 63 and then with Clarendon-based Vere Technical in 1965, 1967 and 1968.

Kingston College goalscorers Kvist Paul (left) and Shareef Ricketts (centre) engage Hydel High’s Garrick Taylor in an aerial duel during their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup Round-of-16 game at Stadium East on Saturday. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Oliver “The Riddler” Clue won with St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in 1974 and Charlie Smith in 1988.

Frank Brown won with St Catherine-based Dinthill High twice in 1979 and 1981 and then with Excelsior in 1989 and 1993.

Patrick “Jackie” Walters, one of the most successful coaches, won with Camperdown High in 1978 and 1979 and with Glenmuir High of Clarendon in 2004, 2006 and 2012.

Vassell, who is the National Under-15 and Under-17 assistant coach, now becomes the fifth coach to achieve that feat and he is humbled.

“It’s a tremendous feeling to have hitched my name to such a group, it’s not an easy achievement in itself,” he reflected.

Hydel High School’s Shannon Power (left) tries to close down Kingston College’s Domaine Smith during their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semi-final game at the National Stadium on Tuesday. Karl McLarty

“The journey has been characterized by challenges, resilience, hard work and dedication. As a coach the dream for me has always been to leave my mark on any programme I’m head of and that continues to be the focus wherever I go,” said Vassell.

KC, one of the most prolific teams in schoolboy football, scored a remarkable 92 goals from 18 matches with 11 against in the Manning Cup. They also scored one in their 1-2 defeat to Glenmuir High in the Champions Cup.

“The number of goals the team scored this season stems from the fact that we did finishing and shooting practices practically every technical session right from the get-go. More than 50 per cent of the team contributed to the goals,” he explained.

Deshawn Byfield lead the way with 22 goals, followed by Demario Dailey, 17; Matrim Martin and Damani Smith, 9 each; and Kamaul Patterson, 8.

Reynolds noted that they were always confident in doing well in the competition and were aiming for 100 goals in KC’s 100th year.

– HW