Clarendon's outstanding striker Lenworth Hyde on the go in their match against Vere Technical High in this November 1976 Gleaner file photo. WESTERN BUREAU:
IN THE 56 years since the inception of the daCosta Cup, which has featured more than 60 teams in recent years, only 10 schools have had the enviable distinction of winning the coveted trophy - the symbol of rural schoolboy football supremacy.
Cornwall College, who first became champions in 1953 after watching Munro claim the title in its first three stagings (1950, 1951 and 1952), have subsequently become the competition's most successful team with a grand total of 11 crowns.
In their impressive collection of titles, the red-and-gold standardbearers from Montego Bay, who last won the title in 2001, have produced notable stars such as former national captains Warren Barrett, Noel King and Mark Ledford alongside phenomenal strikers Billy Griffiths and Allie McNab.
While they did not see championship success until 1965, Vere Technical stand tall in second place on the all-time winners list with nine titles, including an impressive streak between 1965 and 1971.
Having produced national stars such as Allan 'Skill' Cole, Norman 'Gutu' Thompson, Corcel and Miguel Blair, Kenneth 'Bop' Campbell and goalkeeper Orville Edwards, Vere's place in the annals of schoolboy football must be considered legendary.
Rusea's, who came to prominence in the 1980s and unleashed 'nationals', such as goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, the flamboyant Mark 'Haglar' Wilson, Steve 'Shorty' Malcolm, Linton Stewart and Kenneth Gaynor, are second behind Cornwall College in terms of titles won.
In fact, in the decade between 1993, when they made their first final, and 2003, when they joined Munro College in second place on the list of all-time winners, they reached a total of nine finals and lifted the trophy seven times.
While it has been more than 40 years since Munro last won the daCosta Cup, their place in the history of the competition is secure as their seven titles places them third on the all-time list behind Cornwall College and Rusea's.
Clarendon College have won six daCosta Cup titles and many pundits believe their 1977 championship side, which was coached by Winston Chung-Fah and featured the dazzling Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde stands supreme as the best schoolboy team of all time.
