Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) wishes to pay tribute to one of this country’s greatest football goalkeepers. Patrick ‘‘Pat’’ Gomez, who played for Casuals, Port-of-Spain Football League (PoSFL), North, Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies, died in Canada recently at the age of 78. Those who had the pleasure of seeing him will have very fond memories of his great goalkeeping skills when he played at the Grand Stand, Skinner Park and other grounds.
Many people who knew him well always felt that he was not only a great goalkeeper but also a sportsman worth emulating. Pat Gomez, who was Trinidad and Tobago’s number one goalkeeper for many years, was selected to lead the West Indies Football Team on their 1959 tour of England. The English players who had toured Trinidad in 1955 said that Gomez was worthy of a place in any amateur English club. Trinidadian Eric James was named manager. Some of the playing members of that West Indies team were Pat Gomez, Willie Rodriguez, Alvin Corneal, Tyrone de la Bastide, Doyle Griffith, Monty Hope, Edward Aleong, Len Leggard, Tony Hill, Ken East and Owen Parker.
After winning a couple of their warm-up matches in England, the West Indies lost 7-2 against the might of the British team. According to one newspaper report, the West Indies did far better than the score suggested. Three of the British goals came about through defensive lapses. They occurred not so much through individual errors as through lack of understanding, according to the report. Our own Alvin Corneal, who possessed one of the most lethal left foot in the Caribbean at the time, did get in one tremendous drive late in the game, when his shot from 30 yards, was just tipped over the bar by British goalkeeper Mike Pinner. Former Trinidad and West Indies cricketer Willie Rodriguez was impressive with his long and accurate clearances while left back De la Bastide also of Trinidad earned tremendous applause for the great game he played – tackling well and showing fine sense of anticipation. Skipper Pat Gomez put up a courageous display in goal, and could not be blamed for any of the shots which beat him. He pulled off one almost impossible save from the British inside left Peter Kane.
In those days most of our football matches were 60 minutes long. It took some adjustment when players had to play for 90 minutes against foreign teams. In commenting about playing games of 90 matches duration, Gomez said: “Our boys are quite capable of playing 90-minute games but we must first practice where his side led opposing teams until the customary hour, but thereafter went to pieces during the unaccustomed half hour period.
I remember as a young boy seeing Gomez display some of his brilliance during North-South matches. He was at the twilight of his career and was soon replaced by another fascinating goalkeeper, Lincoln Phillips. On behalf of those whom he brought so much joy to, CBTT salutes the late Pat Gomez, an outstanding sportsman, exemplar and patriot. Rest in Peace, Sir.