BY AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter
Chris Bender - FILE
WHAT DO ARLINGTON and Invaders Football Clubs have in common?
Very brief stints in the Premier League, which August Town and Naggo Head have no intention of emulating this coming season.
Invaders and Arlington advanced to the 2004-2005 Premier League but lasted only one season, rapidly returning to Super League football after failing to hold their own among seasoned Premiership teams.
A myriad of problems, ranging from lack of facilities, poor spectator support, very little sponsorship and imagined talent ensured immediate relegation.
Coach Christopher Bender, whose August Town topped the National League play-offs ahead of Harold Thomas' Naggo Head this season, yesterday admitted much work will have to be put in, both on and off the field for his team to remain in the top league.
"I am not fooling myself that we will be able to compete with the players who are here," said Bender.
FILL THE GAPS
"We have to go and meticulously find players to to fit the weak areas. Players have already started showing interest, some with Premier League experience and we're looking around at other players," he added.
Thomas, whose feat of leading Naggo Head to the nationwide Federation Cup knockout title a few years back, was only topped by last Sunday's qualification to the Premiership, also hinted at boosting his line-up to match Premier League talent as well as other changes the St. Catherine club will have to undergo.
"Our field, as it exists, does not meet the requirements for Premier League," said Thomas, who had also led demoted Rivoli to the Premiership a few years back.
"Seating and other facilities are something the club plans to address very soon. There will be the need, initially, for the use of some other facilities for home games.
"There is Ferdie Neita Park, which is used by Portmore United and Prison Oval. Those are the two facilities in St. Catherine which meet the requirements for Premier League.
"The most likely move would be to get into some arrangement with Portmore United to use Ferdie Neita Park as it has happened before where two teams can share a a facility. That would be the most likely option," said Thomas, who also had a stint with Premiership champions Waterhouse two seasons ago.
The Jamaica Football Federation requires Premiership clubs to have a secure home venue with seating and a cordoned playing surface, plus sanitary conveniences as well as a press area.
Promoted Boys' Town, who ended a creditable sixth in the Premiership last season, played almost a half of their home games on the road before stands were erected at Collie Smith Drive.
Thomas said Naggo Head are ready to ensure their survival on and off the field.
"The club is well-structured in terms of organisation, its constitution, functions and executive," he said.
"There is of course the question of resources but the club has numerous plans to finance itself and the whole concept of sponsorship has to be revisited because Portmore has a dynamic market."
Similar to Bender, Thomas said his squad will also have to be revamped to compete with the best.
"We have to," he said.
"For starters, the Premier League has a dual competition, Under-21 and senior league. The exact number we'll keep, we're not sure as yet but we're making an assessment of resources as to who'll make a transition to the Premier League."
Being largely a community team could pose its problems through favouritism but Thomas described Naggo Head as "a very knowledgeable football community."
"They understand the requirement of the league and have opened their arms to players outside and we expect that to continue," he reassured.
August Town's Bender said the club's president, Kenneth Wilson, is already abroad seeking resources to boost their facilities.
"In terms of the field, we're making representation to the University of the West Indies, hoping they'll give us permission to put up stands and lights. The president had a preliminary meeting with the university and it will continue when he comes back," he explained.
DIRECTION OF CLUB
"I have sat with the staff to think about the direction the club should take for player personnel to strengthen the weak areas.
"We'll take the best of what we have here with significant additions to form a good nucleus of players," he added.
The difficult task of transforming non-paying spectators into paying fans is another hurdle but Bender believes the August Town community will conform.
"August Town community is a closely-knit one with Tavern, Hermitage, Papine and Jungle 12. The violence was a factor but that has subsided since the team started winning.
"We didn't have a paying crowd in the Super League but during the play-off we had a good crowd for each game and payment was successful from the first venture.
"The president was encouraged by this and we look forward to the season. Once we get the facilities, we should be okay. We've started to sensitise the people that gate receipts are a part of funding."
Naggo Head, Thomas said, should enjoy significant support from its community and wider Portmore.
"How much the wider community will adapt is left to be seen but not many teams in the Premier League can generate the level of support we're accustomed to getting.
"I believe the spectators will support the team wherever. All our away games were paying events and the level of support has not wavered.
"We expect it will continue and rise significantly," he added.
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