2008 Summer Soccer Camp (Left to right) Luther Blissett, Jamie Godbold, Sir Jack Hayward, and Phillip French (CLICK THE IMAGE TO REDIRECT TO A VIDEO WITH FEATURING 2008 SOCCER CAMP)

Freeport, Bahamas - A major highlight in Grand Bahama’s sporting calendar is being renamed in honour of outstanding island benefactor Sir Jack Hayward.

The annual soccer camp which attracts almost 200 youngsters aged from six to 16 in June every year will be officially entitled The Sir Jack Hayward Premier League Soccer Camp.  It recognises not only the support he has given the camp itself but also his part funding of the new pitches and training areas on East Settlers Way.

They are part of the sporting complex at the Freeport Rugby Football Club which hosts the camp each year.  The London-based English Premier League, the leading soccer league in the world, shared the cost of the development.

Sir Jack’s soccer connections are very strong.  He was born in the UK city of Wolverhampton in 1923 and supported its soccer team through thick and thin in the years that followed – at one time it was the most famous team in the world – leading up to him buying the club in 1990.

He owned it for 17 years, during which he invested a fortune in its ground and players, which produced performances good enough to take it into the Premier League.   Under new ownership it is back among the 20 elite UK clubs which make up that league.

The former World War Two air force pilot arrived in Grand Bahama 53 years ago subsequently becoming Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and his record as an outstanding benefactor over the decades since is legendary, supporting a wide range of local causes including theatre as well as sport.

Soccer camp organiser Derek Archer said: “We think it is a fitting tribute to a whole-hearted supporter of ours who not only sponsors local youngsters who otherwise would not be able to attend but takes a keen interest in what happens during the week.  He always shows up to talk to the visiting coaches and watch the kids showing their new skills.”

This year the camp runs from Monday June 21 to Friday June 25, with registration on the Saturday and Sunday before when the youngsters pick up the two full sets of uniform which are part of the camp package. 

The price for the camp is being frozen for the fourth successive year at $175 in recognition of the tough economic times being faced by many on the island.    Each year 20 or 30 needy or otherwise deserving children are granted free places thanks to the generosity of local businesses in addition to that of Sir Jack.

He is currently off the island on vacation but, when told the camp was being renamed to thank him for his support, he emailed the organisers:  “Thank you for this thought”.

Derek Archer continued: “There is absolutely no doubt that Sir Jack has this island’s interests at heart and he has an ever open ear for those who are trying to help out young people in the community and would benefit from a bit of financial help.  The camp enables him to help kids and also to keep contact with a sport he has loved all his life.”

The camp is some way off but registration forms are already available on this website or from derek.archer1@gmail.com    They can be handed in with cash or cheque at Town and Country in Yellow Pine Street or at the rugby club clubhouse on Monday and Thursday evenings when girls’ soccer training takes place.