Tomlinson staves off challenger for WFA top post

[Sickko]

Tomlinson staves off challenger for WFA top post

PAUL A REID, Observer writer

Thursday, December 07, 2006TOMLINSON... resounding 51-25 win over Francis



FROME, Westmoreland - Everton Tomlinson was on Tuesday returned as president of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA) for a fourth consecutive two-year term.



Tomlinson, who had a resounding 51-25 win over Junior Francis at the AGM at Frome Sports Club, told the Observer he expected to win by an even larger margin.



"I was expecting the margin to be a little wider than this (but) I'm totally satisfied. The delegates have spoken and I'm prepared to lead and continue the development of the sport," he said.



Following Francis' second defeat, it was a matter of going through the motions thereafter as Tomlinson's entire slate was elected, with only one other post being contested.



Devon Maxwell, one of the two newcomers on Tomlinson's slate, beat former Mannings and Reno player Godfrey Drummond, 44-6, for the post of assistant general secretary.

Popular businessman Dave 'Tanka' Taylor, the other newcomer, was elected unopposed as public relations officer.



Former national coach Wendell Downswell withdrew from the first-vice-presidence race midway the voting, thus paving the way for Dodrick Myrie to be re-elected unopposed.



Second vice-president Donald Gordon, third vice-president Danree Delancy, general secretary Copeland Bailey and treasurer Stacy Wilson were all returned unopposed.



The elections - the first since 2000 not to end prematurely - was well attended, with 78 delegates registered and dozens of onlookers present.



Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary Burchell Gibson was in attendance and assisted South Central Confederation chairman Dale Spencer in conducting the elections.



Meanwhile, Paul Island and Robins River will meet in the quarter-final of the WFA/Buchanan KO competition at the Low Ground Oval today.



Tomorrow, it's Petersfield vs Grange Hill at Frome and Straths vs Uprising at Llandillo.

[Sickko]

RE: Tomlinson staves off challenger for WFA top post

'No hard feelings'

Triumphant Tomlinson gives opponents 'right hand of fellowship'

PAUL A REID, Observer West Writer

Thursday, December 07, 2006Let's work together. Everton Tomlinson (left) and Junior Francis



FROME, Westmoreland



Newly re-elected president of the Westmoreland Football Association, Everton Tomlinson, will give the 'right hand of fellowship' to a number of persons who ran against his slate in Tuesday's annual general meeting (AGM), held at the Frome Sports Club.



Less than 24 hours after his resounding defeat of Junior Francis, whom he beat 51-25 to win a fourth term in office, Tomlinson said he plans to "utilise all the talents we have in the parish for the upliftment of the sport".



He also said that he intends to take the suggestion to his board as soon as they meet, but that he has targeted former national technical director Wendell Downswell, Keble Patrick and Delroy 'Billy' Bedward who were on Francis' slate.



Fitzroy Cooper, who ran against him in 2004, and Windell Dawson are also among those who Tomlinson said have a contribution to make to Westmoreland's football.



Downswell, he said, can make a big difference in the development of youth football in the parish. Patrick, the bursar at Frome Technical High and a senior executive in the Petersfield Football Club, will be asked to chair the finance committee. Tomlinson said, too, that Patrick was well respected and knowledgeable.



Despite an acrimonious build-up, Tuesday's AGM was the first one in six years that was not aborted during the election phase. There were, however, strong objections from delegates over the financial report - unaudited for the third consecutive AGM - that was tabled by treasurer Stacy Wilson.



The Reno delegation reminded the meeting that in 2004, the executive had promised to present an audited report within two weeks, but up to two years later no such document had been received.



In addition, there were criticisms over the presentation of the financial report, which was not done in the traditional form with breakdowns, but quite similar to one that would be tabled by the secretary or the president.



The meeting agreed to hold another meeting soon to sort out the report. Meanwhile, Wilson, who was re-elected unopposed, stoutly defended his report, saying it was open to any audit.



With the exception of the position of assistant general secretary, for which Devon Maxwell trounced former Mannings and Reno player Godfrey Drummond 44-6, Tomlinson's entire slate was elected.



Downswell, who was nominated as vice-president, withdrew while the voting was going on, leaving the way open for Dodrick Myrie to be re-elected unopposed. Second vice-presidency went to Donald Gordon, and third vice-presidency to Danree Delancy. Copeland Bailey is now the general secretary, while Dave "Tanka" Taylor is the public relations officer. They were all elected unopposed.