Principal of Kingston College (KC) Dave Myrie has described his school’s success in this year’s Inter-secondary Schools Sport Association (ISSA) schoolboy football competitions as a massive accomplishment as the institution prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary in April 2025.

KC claimed their 17th hold on the Manning Cup and their 11th Olivier Shield in addition to taking the Urban Area Under-14 crown this season, while their Under-16 team made it to the quarter-finals in that competition, in a display of force that was recognised at the school’s North Street campus on Monday. The Under-14 team still has some business to complete with the playing of the All-Island championships set for January 2025.

“This is massive and it is a great way to kick off our centennial celebrations. As you know, this academic year, KC will be 100 years old on April 16,” Myrie said following Monday’s celebration ceremony.

“I see this as the start of the centennial celebrations. We have already secured three trophies, the Manning Cup, Olivier Shield, and Under-14 and I am hopeful that when our Under-14s play in the All-Island competition in January, we will do well there too.”

Myrie emphasised that his goal is to ensure that his institution holds on to all three trophies for a long time to come.

“Most definitely, we want to do this again. I have always said that when we enter a competition, we don’t go in to lose because whenever we enter, we expect to win,” he explained.

“I am going in there to win but if there is a better team out there, then kudos to them, but I am going out there to win. We are hoping to continue doing what we need to do and maintain our success,” said Myrie.

He, however, acknowledged that other schools are improving significantly, but remains confident in his players and coaching staff, believing they will continue to do their best to ensure the success of their teams.

“Of course, we want to keep this going, but I am not going to tell anyone that we are going to hold on to these trophies forever and no one will ever see them again. I can’t say that, I would love to hold on to these trophies and keep winning, but I am realistic enough to know that may not be the case,” he said.

Vassell Reynolds, head coach of KC’s Manning Cup and Olivier Shield teams, was elated with his team’s achievements this season.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling, especially when you consider that a year ago we began this rebuilding process and put a programme in place starting with the Under-14s. We recognised that building from the bottom up is the way to go,” he said.

“We created a technical staff, which includes a head coach for all three age group teams, including Under-14 and Under-16. We did very well, winning the Under-14 Championship, reaching the quarter-finals of the Under-16 competition, and finishing off with the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield. It’s been a very successful year for the Kingston College football programme,” Reynolds said.