Santos Bell Chung Girlz Enrich the Club

SANTOS BELL CHUNG GIRLZ won the CLARO-KSAFA Women's U-20 5-A-Side dress parade on Sunday at the Water Commission oval. Front row from left, Dinah Hartley, Shana-Kay Smith (Captain), Cassian Thomas, Anna-Kay Smith, and Samantha Smith. Back row left, Johnicka Johnson, Christine Erskin, Vanessa Bennette, Yanique Jarrett, and Onecia Bailey.

Santos Football Club celebrated its 45th Anniversary this month having being formed on the 16th of April, 1964 by former Jamaica national coach, Winston Chung Faw. With the entry into the Club's history of former national player and coach, Winthorpe "Jackie" Bell in 1970, the annuals of Jamaican football was structured by these two genius of the game, who, in retrospect, proved to be years ahead of their time.

Santos hit the ground running in the very first year of its formation when they entered and won the Jamaica Football Association's (JFA) Division III competition. After being promoted to Division II in 1965, Santos promptly won the Division II title, and also the Division I crown in 1966. However, in 1966, Santos was disqualified as champions after using an ineligible player. Santos rebound in 1967 to become the undisputed JFA Division I champions, and repeated as champs in 1968.

In 1970, the popular and very outstanding Jamaica national player, Winthrope "Jackie" Bell took over the reins at Santos from founder, Chung Faw, and a new and exciting era in the Club's history was born.

Under Jackie Bell, Santos continued its dominance over local football by winning five straight Craven A National League titles (1973-1978), back-to-back Syd Bartlett titles, back-to-back Major League and National League titles, and became the first club in the history of Jamaica football to go six years without losing a game (1973-1979), but were finally beaten 1-0 by Brazil of St. Ann at Dynamic Oval 1n 1979.

In 1972, under the sponsorship of Byron Lee's Dynamic Sounds, the star studded New York Cosmos, led by the legendary "King Pele", filled the National Stadium, including the cycle track, to its brim when they played Santos. It was a most memorable night in Jamaican football history as Santos, fielding a team of local players, upset the New York Cosmos 1-0 on a wonderful second-half strike by Errol "Barfly" Reid. On that historic night, the star of Santos' Allan "Still" Cole shined bright as he was adjudged by the local faithfuls as being the most outstanding player in the game.

Today, the Santos Alumni roster reads like a who-is-who of Jamaican football and include, but is not limited to, Billy Griffiths, Skill Cole, Patrick Chin, Warrick Lyn, currently ill in Miami with Cancer, Devon Jeffrey, "Johnny Cool" Dawkins, Arnold Bertram, Les Brown, Peter Marston, Richard Danville, Cranston Boxhill, Dr. Carl Grant, Leonard "Chicken" Mason, Goeffrey Maxwell, Lenworth "Teacher" Hyde, Donovan "DV" Hayles, Howard "Juicy" Bell, Allie McNab, Maurice Foster, Michelle Orane, Trevor "Jumpy" Harris, Rennie Phillips, Winston Carty, Norman "Gutu" Thompson, Jennifer Whyte, Livingston Morrison, Roy Howell, Ruddy Smith, Joan Spence, Wayne Shaw, Huntley Green, David Largie, Milverton Brooks, Doc. McKenzie, Leford "Nyah" Hardie, Michael "Ratty" Edwards, Carlton "Puscas" Smith, and Orville "Tazan" Edwards, to name but just a few.

Santos has also inspired the birth of Harbour View football club which has emerged as one of the best football institutions in Jamaica today. "The Stars of the East" were formed in 1974 by the then Santos club manager, Ronald "Piggy" Chung, and other Santos players, including, DV Hayles, "Fat Eye" Thompson, and "Shannie" Hayles.

In its recent history, Santos, under the leadership of the enigmatic Carlton "Spanner" Dennis has been fighting to get back to the JFF Premier League. "Spanner" has led Santos to a Major League title, back-to-back Super League titles, back-to-back KSAFA U-20 titles, and three successive JFF national premier league playoff. However, promotion to the Premier League as eluded Santos under the watch of Carlton Dennis. Ironically, Santos has never been able to win the KSAFA Jackie Bell KO title.

Santos are now third in the 2008-2009 Claro-KSAFA Super League. With two games to go, Santos are three points behind leaders Cavaliers will all to play for. Santos will have to win their remaining two games against Real Mona at Mona this Saturday, and next week against JDF at the Bell Chung Stadium, and hope that leaders Cavaliers and August Town hit a bump in the road in their remaining two games. The Santos Bell Chung Girlz, a new and interesting page in the history of Santos, are currently in competition in the CLARO-KSAFA Women's U-20 League, and will also be competing in the 2009 JFF Women's football league in June.