By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff ReporterALTHOUGH BOYS' Town football club would have preferred celebrating the institution's 63rd anniversary with a win, their 2-1 loss to a select Jamaica XI yesterday could not tarnish the
achievements of the 'Colour Reds' over the decades.
Sunday's game was a part of week-long activities commemorating the founding of the institution, which has nurtured youth in the Trench Town community since 1940.
Boys' Town matched-up against players such as Roen Nelson, Gerald Neil, Luton Shelton, Cornel Chin-Sue, Jermaine Hue and Desmond Breakenridge, who served them their first loss on the newly-laid turf at Collie Smith Drive.
Chin-Sue and Roen Nelson netted their team's goals while Dane Mitchell scored the consolation goal for the home team.
The game was generally slow paced but changed tempo in the 75th minute with the inclusion of Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde, who engaged in a series of one-two touches with his son Lenworth Jnr., while displaying his acute knowledge of the game.
OTHER EVENTS
Other events that took place yesterday were a church service, an awards presentation and the opening of the football field.
Junior Lincoln, a long-standing member at Boys' Town, said that having their own football field will not only benefit the club but the community.
"It's really hard to put in words what it means to have our own field right here at home. We use to have to go up to Mona to play our home games. Now after four years we have our field back and it has brought new energy to the players and to the community," Lincoln said.
"We really have to thank the Member of Parliament, Omar Davies. He along with a few Boys' Town old boys made this possible. In the long run we will have two fields, one for practice and for Boys' Town All-Age School to use and the other one reserved for games," added Lincoln.
One-time JFF president and former chairman of Boys' Town, Loxley Comrie, said that this anniversary also represents the spirit on which the institution was founded.
"When Father Sherlock (Hugh) started he wanted to have an environment where the youths could have wholesome development," Comrie pointed out.
Activities continue through the week with health fairs, exhibition booths, a community talent parade and kiddies entertainment events.
