Highley, James for Alleyne Memorial

NORTH have named a 20-man squad for tomorrow’s inaugural John Alleyne Memorial Classic football match.

The game framed in honour of the late Trinidad and Tobago Football Associa-tion (now Federation) president, will be played at his old stomping ground Skinner Park, San Fernando, from 3.30 pm. At stake will be a trophy donated for the event by one of Alleyne’s daughters Andy Andrews. Prime Minister Patrick Manning and members of Parliament have accepted invitations to attend.

Local football fans of past decades would readily agree that North vs South matches were anxiously anticipated each season. And they will also vouch for that come-from-behind victory by the Northerners at the Queen’s Park Savannah on that sunny Saturday afternoon as the best ever. There were a bevy of stars in that unforgettable game with South, led by Ian “Big Chief” Seales apparently coasting with a 3-0 lead at half-time. But the late Horace “Pepperwine” Lovelace sparked a grand revival of North with the first goal in a 5-3 victory. Before his goal, Allan “Caracas” Joseph, Lovelace, Carlton “Squakie” Hinds, Carlton “Putty” Lewis, Len Leggard, Shay Seymour and others were merely chasing shadows. Tomorrow’s game promises to be just as exciting, with schoolboys Julius James and Gorean Highley thrown into the fray, along with ex-overseas professional Jerren Nixon and the goal-poaching Warren Butler.

The North squad: Kelvin Jack, Kevin Graham, Nigel Daniel, Ronald Primus, Keyeno Thomas, Julius James, Anton Pierre, Randy Ramcharan, Derek King, Anthony Wolfe, Devon Caseman, Sterling O’Brien, Conrod Smith, Trent Noel, Josh Johnson, Jerren Nixon, Goerean Highley, Warren Butler, Marlon Warner, Cornell Glen and Kevon Carter.