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Former star footballer Ken East passes
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
FORMER St George's College and Jamaica star footballer Ken East died last month in the United States, following illness.
East is the third former Jamaica footballer to have died in recent weeks, following the deaths of former Cornwall College and Jamaica player Billy Griffiths, and long-time sharp shooter Noel 'My Son' Tappin.
Born in 1929 in Kingston, East played Manning Cup football for St George's College and was a prominent member of the famous St George's Old Boys football team that was a dominant force in local football in the mid and late 1950s.
The team actually won every available trophy in 1958.
East was a standout member of Jamaica's team during this period as a centre forward (striker).
He was also a member of the only West Indies football team that toured England in 1959. The other Jamaican members of that team were Karl 'Digger' Largie (St George's Old Boys), Owen Parker (YMCA), Sydney 'Syddie' Bartlett (YMCA), Anthony Hill (St George's Old Boys), and Walter 'Wally' Chevannes (Melbourne).
Incidentally, the West Indies team also included Alvin Corneal of Trinidad & Tobago, who later became that country's national football coach, having also played cricket for his country, and Willie Rodriquez, another Trinidadian, who also played cricket for the West Indies.
East joins Largie and Frank Watkins as members of the famous St George's Old Boys team who have died. Apart from those three who all played for Jamaica, other members of that team who donned the national colours were Maurice 'Bobby' Williams, Denzil Lue, Anthony Hill, Frankie Lewis and Aubrey Lowe.
A funeral service for his life was held on July 15 at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, North Carolina, USA, where he lived since he moved to that country in 1965.
He leaves wife Shirley, five daughters, one son, and several grand and great grand children.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
FORMER St George's College and Jamaica star footballer Ken East died last month in the United States, following illness.
East is the third former Jamaica footballer to have died in recent weeks, following the deaths of former Cornwall College and Jamaica player Billy Griffiths, and long-time sharp shooter Noel 'My Son' Tappin.
Born in 1929 in Kingston, East played Manning Cup football for St George's College and was a prominent member of the famous St George's Old Boys football team that was a dominant force in local football in the mid and late 1950s.
The team actually won every available trophy in 1958.
East was a standout member of Jamaica's team during this period as a centre forward (striker).
He was also a member of the only West Indies football team that toured England in 1959. The other Jamaican members of that team were Karl 'Digger' Largie (St George's Old Boys), Owen Parker (YMCA), Sydney 'Syddie' Bartlett (YMCA), Anthony Hill (St George's Old Boys), and Walter 'Wally' Chevannes (Melbourne).
Incidentally, the West Indies team also included Alvin Corneal of Trinidad & Tobago, who later became that country's national football coach, having also played cricket for his country, and Willie Rodriquez, another Trinidadian, who also played cricket for the West Indies.
East joins Largie and Frank Watkins as members of the famous St George's Old Boys team who have died. Apart from those three who all played for Jamaica, other members of that team who donned the national colours were Maurice 'Bobby' Williams, Denzil Lue, Anthony Hill, Frankie Lewis and Aubrey Lowe.
A funeral service for his life was held on July 15 at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, North Carolina, USA, where he lived since he moved to that country in 1965.
He leaves wife Shirley, five daughters, one son, and several grand and great grand children.