Last week, I had cause to attend the funeral of the late Shay Seymour. That might be a name that many of you reading this might not have heard before, or if you have, may know very little about.
Not being a child of the 1950’s myself, I have also had to rely on word of mouth to learn about the man who was a standout in local football and pioneer in his time. I draw his death to your attention, to emphasise again, that yearly, the country loses people who have excelled in their own way, but whose work in whatever sphere is often forgotten and does not become the learning tool that it can be for future generations.
So I thought today, we all could learn a little bit more about Shay Seymour from someone who knew a bit about him, Selby Browne, vice-president of the Veteran Footballers Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago, (VFFOTT).
Below, because constraints of space, is an abridged version of the tribute he delivered at the funeral service. Read it and learn.
This morning, I have the honour to pay tribute to our own Lionel Sylbert “Shay” Seymour for the life of devotion, commitment, passion and love, manifestly displayed throughout a period spanning more than eight decades.
“Shay” was a football pioneer, an icon, a legend, who represented Trinidad and Tobago football in an outstanding manner as a professional footballer in England in the early 1950’s.
He began to display his love for football at an early age with his elder brothers at the Belmont RC Primary School, and like most youngsters, in the Sunday morning football leagues at the Queens Park Savannah before joining his beloved Colts Football Club as a teenager with his friends like Jason Griffith, popular leader of the Carnival sailor band. Colts commonly referred to as the “Belmont Battalion,” was the club he served steadfastly with his team mates, who included: Jim Harding, Horace Lovelace, Len Leggard, Dudley Husbands, Vince Duverney, Len Munroe, Carlton Francis and several other stalwarts, at a time when football in Port of Spain was more important than sittings of the Legislative Counsel at that time, which was the forerunner of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament today.
It was a time when the houses in Belmont and East Dry River were empty for two hours on an afternoon, when residents took up occupancy at the Savannah to support their community club Colts versus Maple or Malvern, Casuals, Shamrock, Notre Dame or Queens Royal College.
It was the skill, dedication and healthy competitiveness of “Shay” and his teammates that brought thousands to witness the high standard of football in Trinidad and Tobago. During the period of the 1940s and 50s saw Colts in the Trinidad Amateur Football Association (TAFA) competing fiercely for trophies that included the FA and BDV (Best Dark Virginia Cup). Victory brought the band on the road, leaving the Queens Park Savannah into Belmont via Cadiz Road with their heroes on held up on shoulders, clearly with the permission of the Constabulary.
In 1953 the TAFA arranged a tour to England when the best footballers in Trinidad and Tobago were selected, and it was on that occasion that Shay Seymour shone brightest along with his teammates.
Permit me to call some of the names: Mathew Nunes, Carlton „Squeakie” Hinds, Carlton „Putty” Lewis, Horace Lovelace, Delbert Charleau, Doyle Griffith, Allan Joseph, John Atwell, Conrad Brathwaite, Syl Dopson, Gerry Parsons, Pat Gomes, Ian Seale, Rex Burnett, Robert Hamel Smith and Joey Gonsalves, goalkeeper and captain, with their coach the legendary Geoff Chambers, who unfortunately was unable to travel with the team.
The team gave a great account of themselves, winning at least three matches and drawing one. The performance on the tour resulted in “Shay” being offered a contract in Manchester to play professionally for a Lancashire Club, the Bury Football Club.
“Shay” along with Mathew Nunes were in fact recommended by none other than Sir Frank Worrell, then playing cricket for both Radcliffe and West Indies. Facts are, Sir Frank also played great football himself. “Shay” and Mathew spent their first winter at an apartment on Ulundi Street, Radcliffe, arranged by Sir Frank.
“Shay” went on to play for several other professional clubs, including Poole Town Football Club.
The records confirm that prior to professional contracts in England for Shay Seymour and Mathew Nunes in 1953, one of the Charles brothers, Alfred Charles of the Port of Spain Club, Everton, played professionally in England in the 1930s.
Today, it is our turn to remember “Shay” who was truly a Trinidad and Tobago football pioneer and outstanding contributor, an Icon, a legend.
Having played cricket with success in Trinidad, “Shay” continued his cricket while in England where he was also renowned for his prowess, being highly recognised while representing Clubs such as Bournemouth Cricket Club. He was also captain of the Westmoors Cricket Club.
On his return to Trinidad, “Shay” gave back to his juniors by bringing his vast experience, knowledge and excellent strategic football planning, along with a keen sense of player’s capabilities and weaknesses and his moral fabric, to mold and shape boys into men.
As a member of VFFOTT, “Shay” attended several VFFOTT functions and events starting with our launch in July 2008 in front the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Football in Trinidad and Tobago. He also attended many VFFOTT Sunday sessions at the Barataria Sports Complex, but was unable to attend this year at the Carnival Reunion Lime held on Sunday 14 February.
VFFOTT members and all past footballers remember his fierce competitive winning spirit, his love for the game, after-match camaraderie, and advice to younger players.
We thank his wife, Jessica, with whom he lived until his passing last Saturday 28 February 2015, for her patience and caring for him.
“Shay” was a man of integrity, moral fabric and a gentleman. He was as an exemplar, his God was his guide, and his most discerning quality was his humility, for which we are all the better for having benefited from meeting him in this part of God’s creation.