AN ICON PASSES
‘Skill’ Cole remembered for contribution to Jamaican football
Stakeholders have hailed former national striker Alan “Skill” Cole as a legend of Jamaican football following his death.
Cole passed on Tuesday at age 74 following a bout with illness. He was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies in Mona, St Andrew, where he was pronounced dead after suffering heart, lung and kidney issues.
Cole had previously recovered from a bleeding ulcer in December 2023.
He’s regarded as one of the best player’s Jamaica has ever produced after a successful stint with the national team, local titles with Santos FC and a standout schoolboy career with Kingston College and Vere Technical.
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts saw Cole during his playing days and says he has left a tremendous legacy.
“As a youngster, I’d have watched Alan and he would have impacted my psyche which would add up to decades,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer. “I think if Alan was around now in a more organised setting, the sky would be the limit.
“I’m hurt emotionally because we have lost someone who would have positively impacted the sport of football and on behalf of the JFF, express our condolences to an icon and someone who would have, from a football perspective, totally influenced a number of boys and girls.”
Former national footballer Clive “Busy” Campbell played with Cole in the 1960s with Santos. He says he will never be forgotten.
“He had a great impact on Jamaican league and Jamaican football itself — he was even national coach at one point,” Campbell told the Observer.
“He used to worship Syd Bartlett and ever since he was 16 or 17, and went away with the Jamaica team, they were so shocked to know he was a schoolboy. Whenever he played, he would bring out a crowd.”
Cole played two seasons with the Atlanta Chiefs in the early days of the North American Soccer League and also signed for Brazilian club Nautica, leading them to the national championship in 1972.
He also had coaching stints with Arnett Gardens, Rockfort, and Port Morant.
In 2010, he was presented with a plaque by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican football.
Cole was also famous for his relationship with Jamaican music legend Bob Marley where he served as tour manager in 1980.
