Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse's coach Wayne Fairclough gesticulates during the Wray and Nephew National Premier League match between Waterhouse vs Village United at Waterhouse Mini Stadium on Sunday 11.12.2005. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ELATED, JUBILANT, overawed, were some of the adjectives pouring from Wayne Fair-clough, coach of Waterhouse the new premier league champion.
It is now practically two days since his team won the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) crown on Sunday evening and the sweetness of it is just soaking in.
"The feeling in the camp is high. We are all elated, we are overawed, jubilant and just enjoying ourselves," Fairclough told The Gleaner yesterday.
MAMMOTH TASK
Fairclough ascended to the top coaching position at the Drewsland Club after Calvin Fitzgerald stepped down, citing internal problems.
That was in November and Waterhouse had the mammoth task of pegging back the runaway leaders Harbour View.
Fairclough launched Water-house into a relentless chase of Harbour View and the rest is history.
In an 18-game span, Fairclough led his charges to an impressive streak, losing only once, to Tivoli Gardens, while digging away Harbour View's 13 points lead and in the end, winning comfortably with one round to spare.
"When I took over, Harbour View were around 13 points ahead of us. It almost looked impossible, but through Christ all things are possible," said Fairclough.
"We knew that discipline would have to be the order of the day and it was zero tolerance where that was concerned. Each player would have to motivate another player and if one went wrong, we try and correct each other. That's where it all started - the camaraderie,' he pointed out.
WINNING HABIT
Winning is a habit and that is what swung the pendulum in Waterhouse's favour.
While Harbour View were taking the End-of-Round and Jackie Bell KO competitions lightly by not playing their strongest side, Waterhouse utilised both championships to gain confidence and psychological advantage over their rivals and, in one decisive week with two crunching victories, Waterhouse gained the necessary belief that they could catch Harbour View.
"We came to the realisation that we could have done it when we defeated Harbour View twice in the Jackie Bell and the mid-season final," Fairclough admitted. "If we could defeat them twice in one week, then that would be a psychological advantage. That was the turning point in us achieving victory."
Fairclough, who had coaching experience at Arnett Gardens and St. Andrew Technical High School, (STATHS), had some comforting words for Donovan 'DV' Hayles, coach of Harbour View.
Said Fairclough: "DV, stay strong. It is just not your year. When your year comes it will be yours. I know what you are going through but just keep the faith and the focus my brother DV."
With one round to Water-house have pocketed the $2 million prize money and the game against Harbour View will be of academic interest.
FINAL FIXTURE
It will be heart-wrenching for Harbour View to travel to Waterhouse to honour their final fixture amidst what is expected to be wild celebration at Drewsland against the team which did what at one stage appeared the unthinkable by taking a title that all seemed to be theirs.
