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Struggling North Zone football team, St Mary’s College, have become the first school to part ways with their football coach in the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season.
This morning, veteran coach Michael Grayson—a SSFL hall of famer for his work with Arima Senior Comprehensive, St Augustine Secondary and Trinity College East—announced that he has stepped down from the St Mary’s post in acrimonious circumstances.
Photo: Wired868
Grayson’s swansong proved to be yesterday’s 2-1 win over table proppers Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, which the “Saints” won on a second half item from Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 midfielder Alejandro Harper.
The result saw St Mary’s climb four places on the 16-team standings, as they moved from 15th to 11th spot.
However, this morning, Grayson informed technical staff members, parents and players of his decision to step down.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am informing you that I will no longer be the coach of the CIC 1st XI team,” stated Grayson, via WhatsApp. “Over the last week or so, I have experienced total disrespect from the football committee headed by Damian Cooper.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“This reached its peak last night in a conversation concerning today’s session. As the longest serving coach in the SSFL, together with Trevor Spicer of El Do, disrespect is something I will not tolerate.
“My good friends, I wish you the best for the rest of the season.”
Cooper, a former St Mary’s College player, confirmed Grayson’s exit but declined to make further comment until he could meet with the school principal.
Wired868 understands that former Soca Warriors standout and ex-Club Sando coach Cornell Glen is considered to be the frontrunner for the vacant position and has already been sounded out.
Glen and Yorke represented T&T at the Germany 2006 World Cup, while Yorke also played at the Portugal 1991 World Youth Cup and Molino played at the Korea 2007 and Egypt 2009 World Youth Cups.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
However, Glen could not be reached for comment up to the time of publication.
Thus far, there is nothing to offer credence to rumours that former Soca Warriors head coach Angus Eve could also be on his way to St Mary’s College as their new technical director.
Grayson also was unavailable to elaborate on his relationship with the St Mary’s College administration.
A former Queen’s Royal College (QRC) standout and Trinidad and Tobago international, Grayson scooped up North Zone Championship and National Big Five gongs in his first season with St Mary’s College in 2022.
Radellant has since switched sides and is representing Naparima in 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
However, in 2023, the Saints finished one spot off relegation and endured some tough results—not least, an 8-1 loss to Arima North Secondary on their home ground at Serpentine Road, St Clair.
St Mary’s then started their 2024 campaign with two home defeats to St Anthony’s College (6-0) and Malick Secondary (3-1). And it appears that Grayson’s employers lost patience before yesterday’s win at Edinburgh 500.
Whoever takes up the mantle from Grayson—early indications suggest it could be the 43-year-old Glen—has two training sessions before the Saints host Signal Hill Secondary at Serpentine Road from 4pm on Saturday 21 September.
Photo: Allan V Crane/ Wired868
St Mary’s weekend match will be broadcast live on SportsMax.
The new CIC (College of the Immaculate Conception) coach must then take his troops away to rivals QRC (25 September) and Fatima College (28 September) on successive match days.
At present, Miracle Ministries PHS, St Augustine Secondary and East Mucurapo Secondary occupy the three relegation places. St Mary’s College are desperate to stay clear of the trap door.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Upcoming fixtures
(Sat 21 Sep)
St Mary’s College v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;
St Augustine Secondary v St Anthony’s College, 4pm, Warren Street;
East Mucurapo Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 4pm, Mucurapo Road;
Miracle Ministries PHS v Queen’s Royal College, 4pm, Edinburgh 500;
Presentation (San F’do) v Fatima College, 4pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
St Benedict’s College v Naparima College, 4pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;
Trinity College East v San Juan North, 4pm, Trincity;
Arima North Secondary v Malick Secondary, 4pm, Arima Velodrome.
(Mon 23 Sep)
St Augustine Secondary v Fatima College, 4pm, Warren Street.
2024 SSFL Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fatima | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 39 | 38 |
| 2 |  Presentation | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 23 | 35 |
| 3 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 19 | 19 | 33 |
| 4 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 29 |
| 5 |  Arima North | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 24 |
| 6 |  QRC | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 24 |
| 7 |  Naparima | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 22 |
| 8 |  San Juan | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 1 | 22 |
| 9 |  Signal Hill | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 21 |
| 10 |  Malick | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 20 |
| 11 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 16 |
| 12 |  St Augustine | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 15 |
| 13 |  Trinity East | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 13 |
| 14 |  Speyside | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 12 |
| 15 |  Mucurapo | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 12 |
| 16 |  Miracle Ministries | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 51 | -43 | 7 |
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
