Promise of a “better than before’’ Old Trafford Playing Field

Conrad Francis (left) and MP Peter David

St. George’s, March 12, 2011 – Government has been applauded and has received broad support for its decision to return Old Trafford Playing Field at Tanteen, St. George’s, to complete use for community activities.

“For a long time we were clamouring for this,’’ said football coach Jeffrey Depradine of Carenage United Sports Club. He was one of several representatives of sporting and cultural groups that attended a March 9 ceremony at Old Trafford.

It signaled the formal hand over of the playing field from a teaching site and back to its original purpose for sports and recreation.

Buildings were erected at Old Trafford in 2004 to cater for students attending T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC). Like many educational institutions, TAMCC was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan.

At the handing over ceremony, the Sports Coordinator in the Ministry of Sports promised that very soon, Old Trafford “will even be better than before.’’

Conrad Francis said the Sports Ministry had opened a bidding process to find a contractor that would be hired to upgrade and rehabilitate Old Trafford, which also had been used by some as a vehicle parking lot over the past six years.

In addition, said Mr. Francis, the rehabilitation of Old Trafford will help prevent the current overuse of the nearby Roy St. John Recreation Ground, the main playing facility at Tanteen.

Town of St. George MP, Peter David, said the plans for Old Trafford include covered bleachers’ stand, dressing room and toilet facilities.

He recalled that Old Trafford was the venue that spawned the careers of many national cricketers and footballers. It was a place where people gathered to have fun “in an atmosphere of good community spirit,’’ MP David said.

“We believe that by rehabilitating this field, we are going to be rekindling that community spirit in the area,’’ said Mr. David, who is also Tourism Minister. “We lack sufficient open spaces in the Town of St. George. With the rehabilitation of the Old Trafford Playing Field, we see an opportunity to provide an open space for people to enjoy.’’

The government was congratulated on the Old Trafford gesture by Trevor Joseph, Chairman of the St. George’s Sports Council; Nigel "German" McKie of the Generations Basketball Club; and Lincoln Depradine, Chairman of the Carenage Organisation for Recreation and Entertainment (CORE).

“We intend to return this playing field to a high level of sporting activities,’’ said Depradine, who was part of 1970s Old Trafford football competitions that involved such teams as Halifax City; NJM United; Phoenix Third World; Tanteen Scrunters; Ajax; Rockshire; and The Might Have Been.

Depradine said organisers of future competitions will seek the cooperation of householders in the Tanteen neighbourhood, and are also interested in obtaining private sector support for the upkeep of Old Trafford.

CORE is inviting members, and other residents of the Carenage and surrounding communities, to a meeting to discuss plans for a clean-up drive for Old Trafford, as well as proposed activities to be held over the Easter holidays in April.

The CORE meeting will take place on Thursday, March 17, 6 p.m., at the Carenage Sports Complex Community Room.