St Georges continue to carry the flag

It has been three years since St Georges Sports Club's promotion to top-flight football and, after missing relegation by two points in their maiden season, the Portland-based outfit have steadily carved a growing reputation of being a serious Digicel Premier League team.

This is no easy feat. Just ask the likes of Meadhaven, Star Cosmos and Naggo Head, who have all been sent straight back to the lower leagues after only one season.

However, the Buff Bay-based St Georges have managed to discover the formula for success and had, in fact, taken steps to ensure their sustainability long before they were even anywhere close to being a premier league club.

You see, 2007's successful premier league push wasn't their first. In fact, the team won the Eastern Confederation Super League in 2005 and, as a result, were involved in the four-team play-off series with their counterparts from the other three confederations. They, however, finished outside of the top two spots that would have given them qualification and were resigned to another two seasons in the Super League.

New thinking

That experience triggered a new thinking inside the club, and as club president Everton King explains, a new 360-degree approach was adapted.

"At that point (2005) we found that several things were lacking," said King. "The guys were training hard but weren't eating the right stuff and it's difficult to maintain your body without having a proper meal.

He added: "We improved the whole social aspect, physical development, implemented a medical system that covered them in case of injuries, we also offered what we called a stipend and, of course, we improved the coaching set-up.

"The players were really encouraged by this and it showed," King continued.

Even before then, the club had determined that they would create a core of talented young players, led by the Taylor brothers - Jermaine and Ricardo - as well as marksman Damion Harwood, in an effort to secure a solid nucleus for the future.

"Basically, what we did was start with a young team back in the day with the Taylor brothers and Harwood playing. We decided that we were going to groom these youngsters. Of course, at that point we didn't know that we would reach the premier league," King noted.

Best talent

A nice mix of the eastern region's best talent and some experienced premier league players ensured a steady climb up the table for the Portlanders over the years. In the 2007-2008 season, they crawled to a ninth-place finish and the following year they finished one position better.

Last season, St Georges reached the end of first round final before closing the season in fourth place, a massive mark of progress.

But King and his team are not satisfied and are already looking at ways to improve the club from on and off the field.

"There is still a lot of room for improvement, especially in terms of professionalism in the club. Part of the club's vision - and this is something that I insist on - is that every year the club must do something to improve the infrastructure. For instance, in the past we have improved the field, added stands and lights with the help of the Sports Development Foundation. I must also mention the assistance of our Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, who has been very supportive of the club over the years."

This season has not started on the best of terms for the club. But King is expecting his charges to turn things around sooner rather than later, and given their rate of improvement over the years, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the red and white-clad team fighting for top honours next May.

- A.L.