Members of the football fraternity, friends and well wishers turned out in large numbers for the celebration of the life and work of football great Sydney ‘Syd’ Bartlett in a memorial service which took place at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church and then a gathering at Curphey Place on Tuesday, March 23.

The two memorable events as tribute to one of Jamaica’s greatest ever footballers, were organized by some of Syddie’s friends headed by former playmates ,goalkeeper Karl Lewin and centre-forward/centre half Walter ‘Blubber ‘Campbell. The church service was led by Monsignor Kenneth Richards, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kingston.

The man who thrilled Jamaicans with his dazzling ball skills for many years as a player at his club YMCA and as a national representative ,moved to the USA in 1965 where he lived for many years. Syddie died in New York in December 19,2009 . He was buried in New Jersey but family and friends subsequently decided to have a memorial service in Jamaica at a church where he grew up as a boy.

Among those who paid tribute was his national team mate, Ambassador Anthony Hill who credited him with “injecting excitement into the hearts of thousands of football fans of the 1950’s and 1960’s” . He lauded the KSAFA for honoring this outstanding footballer by naming one of its competition “The Syd Bartlett League” in 1983. This was greeted with nods of approval by former KSAFA presidents, Neville Glanville and Lockslie Comrie and vice president Russell Bell (moved the resolution at KSAFA 1983 Congress to name a KSAFA league in Syd Bartlett’s honour);sports journalists Tony Becca, Errol Townsend and HG Helps, JFF presidents “Lincoln ‘Happy’ Sutherland& Capt Horace Burrell who also paid tribute, Ken Chaplin –former FIFA referee; Winston Chung Fah, Leebert Halliman and Bradley Stewart –former national junior and senior coaches

Among the former school boys, senior and national players in attendance were : Allan ’Skill Cole, Derrick Dennicer, Howard ‘Juicy ‘ Bell, Franklin ‘Bowla’ Morant, Trevor ‘Jumpy’Harris, Dr Basil ‘Bagga’ Wilson, Bunny Goodison, Alva Anderson, Dan Clarke, Neville Oxford, Oscar Black, Paul Thomas, Dr Lascelles Graham, Lascelles Dunkley, Hopeton Kenton, Percy RichardsArchie Martin.

Tributes were also paid by Syddie’s siblings, bother-Michael and sister –Roselyn.