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Hopeton Kelly Memorial spurs reunion at Manning’s
March 27, 2025
Organiser of The Manning's School's Hopeton Kelly Memorial, Sean Young, said the predominant football event is to bring more awareness to women's football in Westmoreland and bringing positivity to the community.
The second staging saw approximately 2,500 patrons turn out at The Manning's School in Westmoreland last Saturday.
"We are definitely promoting women's football in the parish. Our aim is to improve and create more awareness for female football. So, next year, our plan is to incorporate female football because we would love to give them that exposure," Young said.
"We brought the Reno FC girls to participate and having them there is to let people know about them," Young told STAR Sports.
"We gave them a space to do vending to raise money for their team. Hopefully, they can garner some more support from the corporate community," he added.
The event began in 2023 to honour the life and legacy of the late under-14 player from the 1978 Manning's football team, Hopeton Kelly, who tragically passed away in an accident while the team was on its way to a match. So, former teammates Brian Young and Dwight Coote came up with the concept.
Three Manning's stalwarts were also honoured posthumously at this year's staging - the captain of the 1978 team, Cecil 'Silla' Pringle, who passed away suddenly last year, and Michael 'Scorcher' Whitelock. Ronaldo 'Pegleg' Webley, the mascot of the daCosta Cup football team who passed away this year, was also celebrated.
During the first staging, proceeds from the event were given as a scholarship to The Manning's School's Kajay Williams, an outstanding daCosta Cup player.
"We have not chosen a recipient yet this year. We are going to choose a project that the sports programme is in dire need of. Whatever we identify, we will work with the sports department to find out exactly what their priorities are and we will choose that, specifically the football programme."
The triple header opened with a clash with Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). The score ended 3-2 in favour of the JFB.
In the schoolers' game, parish rivals Frome Technical High and Manning's faced off, with Manning's winning 2-1. The feature game saw 1978 Elron Cup champions and former Jamaica Reggae Boyz Invitational face off. It ended 3-1 in favour of the Reggae Boyz.
Players like Theodore Whitmore, head coach for Mount Pleasant, and Hector Wright were among the players.
Former Reggae Boyz player Lincoln Taffe said it was a great feeling playing with his former teammates.
"Well, to come and to see a lot of players from back in the days was good and it was fun. I really enjoyed playing with the old boys and against the old boys. It got a few drops and bruises but I have to just live with it. I would love to have it again next year, I am looking forward to it," Taffe said.
Delroy 'Mojo' Foster, a former Manning's player, said he wanted to represent his long-time friend Pringle.
"When I came to Manning's, he nurtured me and bring me. He taught me a lot of things. It was a privilege to be here and I couldn't let the event pass me," Foster said.
Young said that, as the event grows, more activities will be incorporated.
"Our event is expected to be annual but it may become biennial. We sprinkled a few activities. It was a memorable and great event, based on the feedback from the patrons. It brought the community together."
