Latest update March 25th, 2025 4:18 AM
Former National Footballer Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey laid to rest
The remains of Neil Humphrey is borne into the All Saints Scots Church ground for a service.
Family members of Neil Humphrey console each other at his funeral service.
Kaieteur News – They came out in their numbers from far and near, a number flew in from overseas, to bid farewell to a man who some say loved others more than himself. He deserved every bit of accolade that was and is being mentioned of him.
The late Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey, the 65 years old former National Footballer, community activist, youth advocate and a selfless server of the community in many spheres was laid to rest on Wednesday at the Stanleytown Cemetery in New Amsterdam.
There were many dignitaries and many former national players in attendance. A number of persons wore football and other sporting attire. While some shed tears other were perplexed.
The robust and busy Humphrey lived at Lad Lane New Amsterdam died suddenly on Sunday 28th February.
A funeral service was held at the All Saints Scots Church ground; a place where he spent many hours exhibiting or imparting his football skills to others.
The body was then taken through the Prison Officers Compound for a drive by his residence. He worked with the Guyana Prison Service and when the Prisoners can shed tears, it tells a lot.
The hearse was proceeded by a group of youngsters playing football from is home to the burial ground.
To describe all the sentiments, achievement and other selfless acts performed by Neil Humphrey would take many pages and as one person said everything good said about Neil is true. “Nothing said is being said because he is dead; he was just a selfless soldier and many times a one man army”.
On many occasions he alone would do everything for a football match or competition from organising, coaching, teaching, training, refereeing, to coordinating. He would silence the crowd and MC the presentation ceremony, compile the results before disseminating it to the media. He was Mr. Football.
Neil had many names, the more popular being “Grizzly and Coachman”.
Neil was the third of eight siblings, five boys and three girls and a father of seven. His generosity has no bounds; apart from his seven children he adopted two more. He also leaves to mourn his elderly mother.
The Humphrey Family is well known for their sporting powers and generosity in Guyana. Apart from their football powers a number of the siblings represented Guyana with success in various sports disciplines at various levels.
Neil was a live wire. He featured in the national football line up from his teen years to senior level. He also participated in many other sporting activities one can think about with reasonable success.
Along with his siblings he was a prominent figure in the Berbice football lineup and represented clubs such as Cougars, Caribs, Bermine for teams such as Caribs, Bermine, Hearts of Oak and Hearts of Oak Masters.
He helped to form the Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club and was the current president when he died. He was the chief organiser in the club, organising the popular Teach Them Young football Camp for more than two decades. He was also the local contact for the Overseas Disturbance Football Club which is made up of mostly of former residents. He was also the live wire along with his siblings that organised the once popular Hilbert “Old Beef” Humphrey sports activities which was played in memory of his father.
Neil was also an integral part in the family popular butchery business. His boots will be hard to fill.
The Kaieteur Sports takes the opportunity to extend deepest sympathy to the family, friends, associates of Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey. (Samuel Whyte)
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