bridging communities through sport.

Shortwood Road connects at one end with Constant Spring Road and at the other with the community of Cherry Gardens. In between it attaches itself to Wedcombe Avenue, Grants Pen Road, Lady Huggins Avenue, Gibraltar Lane, Shortwood Lane and Charlton Avenue. As Shortwood Road meanders uphill it passes Allerdyce, Aylsham and Norbrook Drive. This bridge to community connects humble to wealthy and business to community. Along its length there are churches and educational institutions, the most notable of which is the Shortwood Teachers College, whose stately buildings overlook Shortwood Road.

Located alongside that venerable institution is an open playing field. This green space is the only one of its kind in the entire Shortwood Road area just described. It has, for decades offered everyone, rich, poor, young and the not so young, an opportunity to participate in sporting activities and exercise with nature at their feet. It is here at this playing field that you will find the Shortwood United Football Club.

Formed thirty-three (33) years ago as a Sports Youth Club which participated in football, dance competitions, drama, hiking and debating, the Club was a losing finalist to Tivoli Gardens Football Club in the Allen Cole Competition of 1974. As a result, in 1975, the organizers of the Major League Football Competition invited Shortwood to compete in that League. Although then only two years old, Shortwood took up the challenge and thereafter football became the raison detre of the Club. The ensuing thirty (30) years have seen the Shortwood United Football Club participate annually in every age group league and knockout competition organized by the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association. The club caters for the under 13,under 15, under 17,under 20, adult and the over 35 footballers. This year there is even talk of commencing a women’s football programme.

There have, of course, been mixed fortunes in the period.On the positive side Shortwood has, on several occasions made it to the finals of the Major League Football Competition and qualified for and participated in the Super League. In age group competitions Shortwood won the under 16 Presidents Cup Trophy in 1990 and has won the Masters over 35 trophy more than once. Whatever the results in competition, however, it is the effect on youth development by which success should be measured. In this regard many Shortwood players have made their mark as citizens nationally and internationally.

The Club notes among its players who have done national duty, Bankroft Gordon, Gerald Duggan, Ramon Christian, Eric Currie, Andrew Hines, Duayne Richards and Wayne Palmer. Success is attributable to the commitment, community pride and spirit of its leaders over these 30 years. Noted among them are the likes of David Pinnock (Jah D), Noel Thomas, Michael Smith, Dave McNeish, the West brothers, Howard Allen,Devon Barrett,Richard Gooden,Barrington Wright,Evlo Hinds,Byron Nunes Prince Layne, Erwin Jones and Delroy Forrest, to name a few. The Club has been fortunate to have attracted coaches of talent such as the great Winston Chung Fah, Franchot Chang, Rudolph Currie,Trevor Barham, Allie McNab, Russell Bell and Ian Muirhead (Pastor).

This year, as Shortwood embarks on its campagn to reenter the Major League under Coach Leon Mitchell, there is a determination to succeed, keeping at the forefront the club’s motto “The race is not for the swift but for he who can endure”. Whatever the results, however, Shortwood will, in the course of competition, foster the personal development of its players and, like Shortwood Road itself, continue to be a bridge between communities.

The Shortwood United Football Club therefore invites one and all to come to the Shortwood playing field, enjoy the games, share the Club’s joy of victory and, if it becomes necessary,its agony in defeat. 2008 .