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St Catherine High trusting their young players
July 25, 2025
St Catherine High turned heads last season in the ISSA Manning Cup when they stunned several of their more-storied opponents in an historic run to a first-ever final appearance.
However, head coach Anthony Patrick said this time around, they will be relying on their young talent, as several of their key players from last season have since graduated and left the programme.
St Catherine were beaten finalists in last year's Manning Cup, marking the school's first appearance in the final, while also making their first appearance in the ISSA Champions Cup.
Patrick, who guided the team to historic heights, said much of their core for the upcoming season will be filled with young and inexperienced players.
They will be without the likes of captain Romaine Walters and experienced goalkeeper Omarion Brown, who played their last season of schoolboy football last year.
"When we look around now, it is all about the youngsters this year. We have a 13 year-old who is going to play, he is not going to turn 14 until November. Then we have three 15 year-olds who we had to bring forward into the set-up, and couple more who we gave their first games last season, age 14 to 15."
Patrick continued, "Things are looking up so far, but we just have to try to get them to understand that this is the bigger league, it is not Colts or Pepsi. This is the Manning Cup, so they will have to give it their all."
The loss of their senior players, Patrick said, sees not only an absence in experience, but team cohesion.
Patrick explained that several of their senior player had been playing in the Manning Cup together for years, and he believes the team has lost years of experience in one fell swoop.
"It's going to have a major impact, because we lost players like our goalkeeper who was keeping for four years straight," he explained.
"Our centre back, he was our captain, he played for four seasons, and our right back, he played for two seasons at the Manning Cup level. When you put them together, that's about 10 years of experience that we've lost at the back line alone."
Yet, despite the inexperienced players throughout his ranks, Patrick remains confident that St Catherine can reproduce the form they showed last year.
IMPRESSIVE YOUNGSTERS
He said expectations remain high in the group and it will be his priority to ensure the team is able to handle the pressure that comes with their season's ambitions.
"There is going to be pressure; in every way, there is going to be pressure," he said.
"We made a major run and we buck our toe last year, but in the areas where we lost our key players, I think the youngsters will do well. We have been trying to develop them, it's been a work in progress and hopefully they can continue to grow."
One such youngster who Patrick believes will play a key role is Timothy Jones, the youngest in their squad.
Age 13, Jones had played a minor role last year, making cameo appearances in the early rounds. This year, however, Patrick believes Jones will be a major factor in the school's ambitions of reaching new heights.
"Jones, you're going to see him a lot," Patrick promised, "He is a very talented youngster. He played last year at age 12, but this year, he is going to be a major part in the team. He's just 13 and won't be 14 until November, but I think he's ready."
St Catherine have been drawn in Zone D for the first round alongside Campion College, Clan Carthy High, Penwood High, Papine High, Eltham High, Norman Manley High and Innswood High.
