Buxton United FC…The K&S football kings restore prestige and pride to a beleaguered village

Jan 06, 2013 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
It was December 25 and Western Tigers FC were battling furiously for ascendency against Buxton United FC. The score was nil all and as the clock ticked away the minutes, neither side seemed capable of breaking the stalemate. It seemed apparent that extra time or possibly penalty kicks would have become necessary in determining a winner. It was then that Michael Phyll pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. He latched onto a loose ball from around the middle of the field and let loose a mighty kick that flew past the opposition’s strikers, their defence cordon and their goalkeeper to finally settle aback the nets.
Like the animal they were christened after, Western Tigers with a plethora of stars the likes of Devon Millington, Shawn ‘Bubbly’ Beveney and guest player, Walter Moore, battled feverishly to equalize the situation and preserve their reputation, all to no avail; the Buxtonians prevailed and moved on to the semi-finals.
The naysayer dubbed it a fluke and predicted that the ‘brash’ Buxtonians, slated to face off with the mighty Alpha United unit, would be booted out of the competition at that juncture. They were oh so wrong; following a goal scrimmage in front of the opposition’s goal, the Buxtonians benefitted from a goal default situation that sent them into the finals where, after a tough battle that necessitated all of regulation and extra time, they prevailed on sudden death penalty kicks against their nemesis, Amelia’s Ward, and after years of fluctuating fortunes while attempting to win the prestigious accolade, the team from the East Coast village had accomplished the impossible.
Coach of the Buxton United team, Herbert McPherson is not one to show his emotions and a flicker of a smile was the only evidence of his satisfaction at attaining the coveted prize. For most of the matches, he stood on touchline bellowing out instructions or egging his players on. Yet he acknowledges the administration of the club that has played a vital role in the victory. They include Reverend Adolph David who serves as the President, Eton Moses (Secretary), Damiana Armstrong (Treasurer), Mark Wade (Manager) and Lyndon France, a former coach who has relinquished the position after being appointed as Development Officer of the GFF. George Gibson is McPherson’s assistant.
Naturally, McPherson is ecstatic with the victory especially since he entered the tournament as one of the underdogs. Even before the tournament had kicked off the lanky, dreadlocked coach had staunchly believed that his men had the necessary tools to pull off the feat. “We are going all the way,” he had then proclaimed. Now in retrospect he believes that it was a good tournament even as he complimented his boys for their dedication and commitment. He admitted that the team was operating on a shoe string budget and against all the odds. “That is what makes this victory so meritorious,” he said. The players were all relatively young with the most experienced being Captain and midfielder, Dwayne Jacobs, whose expertise McPherson lauded.
The team battled the vicissitudes including the adverse weather conditions that hindered training sessions. Further, most of the players were from humble families and could hardly afford the necessary trimmings to enhance their chances of winning. All they possessed was staunch determination and an insatiable hunger to succeed.
“Many days the team was confined to indoor activities because the Buxton Community Centre Ground (where they practiced) was left in a sodden state after the rains had subsided,” said McPherson. He also intimated that the players were devoid of the requisite resources to enhance their training. “We could not afford to employ professionals the different fields so we utilized those associated with the club to talk with the players and provide other services,” said McPherson. He also singled out Dwayne Jacobs who shrewdly guided the youngsters to their tournament winning feat. “Dwayne was an important cog to the team’s victory,” the coach confided. “He was a motivational force.”
The tournament was marred by the dispute between the GFF and the GFA and many would want to say that the absence of the key teams facilitated the Buxonian’s rise to the top. McPherson scoffed at such a notion. “We’ve defeated two powerhouses, Alpha United and Western Tigers and I believe we have earned our place among the big guns,” he declared. He said that he would have relished a situation where all of the teams were participating. “But this was a pipe dream because the administrators seem unable to grapple with the present crisis so naturally Buxton Utd played it safe and participated in the tournament that received the blessings of the GFF,” he said. Notwithstanding, McPherson welcomes the news that a team of FIFA officials will be in Guyana soon to resolve the issue. “With an amicable resolution, our footballers would benefit,” he said.
Jacobs has been adjudged the Most Valuable Player, while McPherson is the best coach. The former receives a motorcar donated by Beharry’s Automotive Limited, while the latter receives a motorcycle. Indeed, it is just reward for two individuals whose input has changed the fortunes of more than a dozen youngsters, easily susceptible to crime.
The players return to the field on January 15 next when they resume preparations for the continuation of the GFF Super Leagues, scheduled to resume on February 3 next. That apart, the administration of the club will move on with its programme of youth development, honing the skills of players from the U-13 category right up to the senior level. The coach said that this is important in the ball weaver’s continued development. And what has the victory done for the Buxtonians? “It has restored prestige and pride to a beleaguered village,” McPherson stated matter of factly. He feels this is the beginning of the attainment of many other prestigious accolades.

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