Trevor ‘Lannie’ Maxwell, 1st Western Tigers player appointed National Captain – former Guyana International 1983 – 1987

Nov 04, 2012 Sports

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Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series of features on Guyana’s World Cup players, today we are pleased to feature Trevor ‘Lannie’ Maxwell; former Guyana International, 1983 – 1987.
Although Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite was appointed National Captain in 1984 whilst playing for Allan Walker’s Western Tigers, the football fraternity and indeed the 83,000 square miles of Guyana is cognizant that Braithwaite is a foundation Pele FC product.
So the million dollar question still being asked by football fans is who is the first born and bred Western Tigers son of the soil to wear the Captain’s armband for Guyana at the Senior International level. The answer to the question is Trevor ‘Lannie’ Maxwell.
Strange enough though, Maxwell, similar to Julian Moe, never represented Guyana at the junior level. Maxwell’s first touch against foreign opponents was on April 28, 1983 for Western Tigers against St. Francois division-one side from Trinidad and Tobago at the GFC Ground.
Form the onset he announced his arrival on the international scene with a hat-trick of goals that propelled Western Tigers to a convincing 4-0 victory.
After that game he was selected in a strong Region 4 team for the Inter Guiana Games series and after outstanding performances for Region 4, Maxwell was included in a 24-man National squad to prepare for two friendly internationals against Trinidad and Tobago.
He impressed Coach Mervyn ‘Pug’ Wilson in the practice games and was selected in the final 17-man squad. Maxwell remembered his first two internationals like it was just yesterday.
Guyana, playing under the Captaincy of Terrence Archer surrendered to the Soca Warriors in both encounters at Arima and the National Stadium in Port of Spain. His third senior cap was also against Trinidad & Tobago, this time the results was a 2-0 defeat at GCC Ground, Bourda in June, 1984.
The return fixture which was Maxwell’s 4th international played in Port of Spain remains special to the Western Tigers hit-man. In that encounter, he scored his first senior goal but Guyana still lost.
In his 5th international, Guyana humbled India 3-0 at GCC Bourda. Cap number six was a 1-0 World Cup Qualifier loss to Suriname in Paramaribo.
Maxwell’s next game was the World Cup Qualifier return fixture at GCC, Bourda, August 1984 when he worked overtime creating several chances for team mates but all were wasted.
He {Maxwell} blamed team mates and goalkeeper Gerald Williams whose carelessness caused Suriname to equalize after Terrence Archer had sent Guyana ahead in the 38th minute.
The loss resulted in the Lennox Arthur Coached side being eliminated from the 1984 World Cup campaign.
His next two caps were 2-2 draws against Suriname at GCC Bourda, November 1984. The Western Tigers star striker was spectacular in his 10th international, again at GCC Bourda, January 1985.
Guyana defeated Cuba 1-0 and drew the series finale 2-2 to win the series. Maxwell noted that this series was the biggest moment of his International career. Guyana had earlier lost series to Cuba in 1976, 1977 and 1980 and this was the first time in 11 matches, Maxwell had reason to celebrate as a senior National player.
In his 12th game, Maxwell and the teammates humbled home team French Guiana 1-0 to set up a date with old nemesis, Suriname.
In the Caribbean Football Union eliminator played at Camp Ayanganna, Maxwell failed to produce the fire power he was known for and Suriname needled the Gordon Braithwaite led side.
That loss brought an end to the 1985 CFU campaign for the Guyanese; after the defeat Coach Arthur decided to expose young talent and Trevor Maxwell was appointed National Captain, never letting the folks from West Ruimveldt down.
In his first series in charge, Maxwell led from the front against French Guiana at Camp Ayanganna. Guyana playing with mostly Under-23 players humbled French Guiana 2-1 in the series opener.
In the final game, Maxwell’s men came from behind to earn a tough 1-1 draw and that result ensured that Maxwell lifted the then Prime Minister Hamilton Greene trophy. His next series as National Captain was July, 1986 against Barbados. National Coach Lennox Arthur persisted with the same young brigade that destroyed French Guiana the previous year at the Army Headquarters.
In the first match of the series the experienced Bajans roughed up Maxwell’s boys 2-0 at the GCC Ground, Bourda. But the skipper was determined to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Buoyed by a boisterous posse from West, the skipper and company played the game of their lives which resulted in a convincing 2-0 victory that leveled the series at one apiece. He surprisingly lost the National Captaincy to Anthony Williams for Guyana’s next series against Venezuela at Camp Ayanganna, November 1986.
His 20th senior International was against the Bahamas in Nassau where Guyana won 3-1 in January, 1987. After that victory, Maxwell travelled to St. Lucia where Guyana thrashed the host’s 3-1 in an international friendly.
Next up for him was and remains the most talked about game for Maxwell who netted
against the Bahamas that sent them packing 4-0 at GCC in that Olympic Qualifier return fixture.
While that game was a high point or Maxwell, his next is not one that he likes to dwell on; it was his 23rd senior appearance in 1987. On arrival for the match at Grantley Adams International Airport his best friend and teammate Julian Moe was arrested for a banned substance but despite that, Guyana drew that encounter 2-2.
Maxwell scored one of four goals in Guyana’s next International which saw the Guyanese hammering the Dominican Republic 4-0 in an Olympic Qualifier at the GCC, Bourda. Adrian Forde and Frank Alphonso Jr. with a double were the other goal scorers.
The former National Captain’s 25th game was a 1-0 win for Guyana over the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. His next was against Grenada at GCC, that friendly ended 1-1.
Maxwell placed the Grenadian custodian under tremendous pressure when Guyana wrapped up the series with an emphatic 3-0 win at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.
In his 28th game, Maxwell and company failed to control things against the Soca Warriors at Camp Ayanganna, Trinidad & Tobago winning that friendly 1-0.
He then journeyed to Guatemala City where the National team lost two Olympic qualifiers 6-0 and 3-0, respectively.
The Western Tigers diehard last outing in National colours was December 3, 1987 against Mexico at the Municipal Stadium in Santa Rosa California. Guyana lost that Olympic Qualifier 9-0.
In total, Maxwell played 31 international matches scoring four (4) goals. He spoiled his impeccable record by absconding after the Mexico game in Los Angeles.
International Tours
1983 Trinidad & Tobago – Goodwill
Trinidad & Tobago – Friendly International
1984 Suriname – World Cup Qualifier
1985 French Guiana – CFU eliminator
Bahamas – Olympic Qualifier
St. Lucia – International Friendly
Barbados – International Friendly
Dominican Republic – Olympic Qualifier
Guatemala – Olympic Qualifier
1987 Los Angeles – Olympic Qualifier

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