History of St. Anthony's College Football
Football at St. Anthony's College was not the same football we know it today to be. St. Anthony's College (the College) was established in 1969 as a private institution for young gentlemen-meaning whose parents had to pay tuition fees for their sons to attend the College. Football back then was played just for the sheer fun of the game.
To many observers, the students were spoilt little boys who played football because they wanted a "sweat". Football meant nothing to them and did not feature in their future plans. The sport was nowhere in their future because their lives had already been decided for them by their parents, the majority of whom were business owners.
Then came the 1980's with the intention to change the way St. Anthony's College was viewed. The College was in the process of changing from a private institution to a government-assisted school. The best teachers were sought to improve academic and examination results. Among these teachers were Mr. Emmett Glasgow (now deceased), Mr. Martin Cooper and Mr. Stedman Hazel-who decided to assist and train students who were eager to play football. These three teachers were not football coaches, but people who loved the beautiful game and were harassed by students to start football in the school.
Students from the Junior Secondary Schools were also introduced in the school in this time period. Life for these students were in stark contrast to those of the private students. These students saw football as a means to improve their future. With the introduction of these students, football became more serious at St. Anthony's College.
Being black at a white school for the Junior Secondary students was a whole new experience. The job of then School Principal, Mr. Paul Borely, was therefore not an easy one. One strategy was sports. Thus with the assistance and support of Mr. Borely and three dedicated teachers of Mr. Glasgow, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Hazel, a football team were formed and matches was played with other schools who showed no respect for the young and inexperienced players of the College. Although there was no football coach or Physical Education teacher, the teaching staff, who knew little or nothing about football, gave full support. The students, through sport, became closer together.
September 5th 1983 saw the introduction of a second set of Government teachers. These included a Physical Education teacher and football coach, Mr. Nigel Grosvenor who soon became known as 'Groovy'. Mr. Grosvenor was a past student and footballer of Trinity College, Moka, Maraval. He taught Physical Education at St. Benedict's College before coming to St. Anthony's College.
The baton of Mr. Emmett Glasgow, Mr. Martin Cooper and Mr. Stedman Hazel was now passed onto Mr. Grosvenor. From September 1983, football at St. Anthony's College began to take a new dimension as Mr. Grosvenor began the task of shaping the College's football, starting from the ground up.
In 1986, it was decided that the football uniform of St. Anthony's College should be red and white striped jerseys. In 1987, St. Anthony's College was promoted to the Championship Division of the then Colleges Football League. Also in this year, through the assistance of Mr. Jean Mouttet and Mr. Bobby O' Connor (employees of our first sponsors Toyota), the football team was named St. Anthony's College ' Tigers'.
St. Anthony's College have won numerous awards and trophies at the National level and have established itself as a premier powerhouse to be reckoned with in the Secondary Schools Football League of Trinidad and Tobago.
Throughout the years that followed since the 1980’s, St. Anthony's College football have evolved and other sports was and continues to be introduced.