SINCE the Jamaica Premier League’s (JPL) expansion to 14 teams, newly promoted teams have struggled to make an impact and have almost routinely been demoted.

However this season, debutants Racing United broke the mould under Head Coach Anthony Patrick. He believes they can challenge for the title next season.

With a game remaining, the St Catherine-based club, which gained promotion to the top flight for the very first time last June, will place eighth in the standings — finishing almost 20 points above the relegation zone.

Racing not only secured their spot for next season but just missed out on the play-offs, as four defeats in their last five games see them on 51 points. They are four points behind sixth-place Tivoli Gardens FC and seventh-place Waterhouse FC.

The team proved its worth over the 39-game regular season, racking up 13 wins and 12 draws including an unbeaten, 12-game stretch from late January to early March. Players such as Nickyle Ellis and Ranaldo Biggs have caught the eye of Jamaica’s senior Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren.

Patrick says he’s proud his youthful team managed to break the stereotype of newly promoted teams.

“I would be ungrateful if I said we weren’t content with what we did. I think we did something amazing, and that was good enough. Although missing out on the top six, I think coming up into the Premier League and getting 51 points is a major achievement — especially with the youngsters and so many inexperienced players,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

During the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons Lime Hall — along with newcomers Faukland FC, Chapelton Maroons, Treasure Beach, and Lime Hall (previously known as Benfica) — all experienced relegation in the same season following their promotions.

However Patrick, who won the CFU Championship with Waterhouse in 2014 and led Bridgeport and St Catherine to a number of schoolboy football titles, believes his previous experiences made the difference over the season.

“Going up against these coaches over the years, although I gave up the Premier League in 2016 to focus on Racing in division two, I didn’t lose anything as a coach. You’re always going to remember and know the opposing coaches and study them. The players bought into my philosophy, we implemented different systems, and they adapted well — and the opposing coaches can talk highly about the team,” he said.

Although the 2025/26 season kicks off in five months, Patrick is confident that Racing can be title challengers with the right moves over the summer.

“I think we’re going to give it a big bang next season,” he said. “With these youngsters playing for the first time in the Premier League, and showcasing so much of their talent, and doing so well against quality competition, it only speaks volumes for the club and themselves. We’re a work in progress; we just have to probably add six more players with more experience but still young, like age 23, 24, then we move forward from there.”

Along with his success at Racing, Patrick also made an impact at the high school level, leading St Catherine High to the Manning Cup final although losing 1-3 to Kingston College.

While many may give him an A plus for his accomplishments with little resources, Patrick marks himself a little harder.

“With the help of all the management and technical staff and the players I must say I’m pretty pleased — but I’m not pleased enough because I haven’t won any title,” he said.

“I’m content with making the Manning Cup final and doing so well in the JPL so I’ll give myself a little tap on the shoulder, but I’m still not happy with what I’ve achieved; I still should have achieved something. But, that’s the nature of football — you’ll win and you’ll lose,” Patrick added.

Racing’s debut season comes to an end on Sunday with the St Catherine derby as they take on Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park.

Racing United take their starting team photo ahead of their match against Chapelton Maroons at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on April 7, 2025.