'81-year-old Administrator was called in to give evidence for Imran Khan'

Sitting in his arm-chair full of exuberance, 81-year old Alpha Syms remembered the day he was contacted by former Pakistan Test player Imran Khan’s lawyer to give evidence in a libel case brought by England International’s Bob Willis. “I remembered it was in 1974 and I was umpiring a game involving the Islanders and England the touring team at that point. England fast bowler Bob Willis made some unkind remarks to young Viv Richards and I had to step in to quell the row.” “Richards must have spoken to Pakistani Imran Khan about the incident and years later Imran writing in his autobiography stated that Willis was a racist, citing the incident involving Richards and Willis.” “Willis then sought to sue Imran on the grounds that he never made any racial comments on that incident. Imran’s lawyer then wrote to me and told me that he wanted me to detail the incident and post it to him. I did and the matter was thrown out. “It was just one of the many instances when my sporting life brought thrills to me.”

Syms can be called an administrator extraordinaire when it comes to sport. At 81 years of age the bubbly grand-dad is still actively involved in sporting administration and holds down the highly respected position of secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) players welfare committee. Syms was born on May 12, 1922 in San Fernando, a city he would later do his  best to develop. His parents Edwin and Agnes moved the family to Port-of-Spain during his early childhood and young Alpha just went along with the re-location. “My dad worked in the Railways and we had to move according to where he was posted.” Alpha gained his early education at Belmont Boys Intermediate and soon after it was back to San Fernando where they settled at Pointe-a-Pierre Road. On his return to the Southland, Syms fell in love with every sport that was available but he had a special liking for swimming, cricket and football.

“I loved swimming and when I was a boy I visited the Kings Wharf where we used to swim and dive a lot. My love for water sports took me to the water-polo team in San Fernando where I played for many years.” “At the same time I joined the Tollgate football club and began my career as a footballer. There I played with former minister under the Peoples National Movement (PNM) Errol Mahabir as well as prominent guys at the time Harry Smith, Collin Paul and Jim Paul. “I also played cricket for many teams in the San Fernando area and was more of a utility player.” Syms’ career in sporting administration came after he joined the San Fernando Town Hall as a clerk at age 28 in 1940. “Being actively involved in sport at the time I saw just how much work was needed to improve the facilities and so on. Working in the Town Hall was a plus because I frustrated the authorities a bit and was on them to improve the facilities.”

“One of the first things I worked on was getting the required infrastructure for lighting at Skinner Park. We in the south had so much time for sport we wanted a night facility. With the help of the Town Hall and the donation of old drilling equipment from the oil fields we were able to install the lights at the Park.” In 1954, Syms decided to quit both cricket and football and get involved in umpiring. “I started off  in the Rahamut league and after my first game the guys thought that I did a good game. This motivated me and I took a keen interest in umpiring after that.” Two years later he made a highly successful move by marrying Gloria Oudit. The union stands strong today and the couple will soon be celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary. “I must say that my marriage to Gloria has been really wonderful; she can never say that I quarrel with her. I never raise my voice in this house. I believe that everything can be worked out with a level head. The couple share three children Anthony, Andrea and Alison. The latter two live abroad, while Anthony, his wife Jackie and their daughter Jessie live with Alpha and Gloria at La Romaine. While conducting the interview it was evident that after all these years the couple was still very close. Gloria was able to recall incidents in Alpha’s career that he himself couldn’t.

Around the time of their marriage, Syms was made secretary of the South Zone Umpires Council. This coincided with his stint as secretary of the Southern Football Association (SFA). He also served as secretary of the Southern Chess Association as well as secretary of the Southern Football Referees Association. Cricket umpiring however was where Syms would make a name for himself. He officiated extensively in regional tournaments as well as in touring matches involving England, Australia and India. Since his retirement Syms has been catching up on playing with his grand-daughter, doing some travelling and sitting by the television a lot. “I have worked hard all my life; now is the time for me to sit down and take things easy. I enjoy being at home and now and again I visit the Oval to look at a cricket game.” His life’s motto is: “Discipline. Once you are disciplined in life you will achieve your goals. I would like to let the youngsters know that discipline will take them very far and I am a living example of this.”