Tribute To George King Gillette

– Founder Of Cape Coast Manchester United Colts Football Club

HISTORY OF THE CAPE COAST MANCHESTER UNITED COLTS FOOTBALL CLUB 9158 – 1974) WRITTEN BY MR GEORGE KING GILLETTE The history of Cape Coast, Manchester United Colts Football Club is two, not one. To attempt to narrate the history of Manchester United Colts Club, it would be worthwhile to recount here in a nutshell, the history behind colts organisation in general in the Cape Coast Municipality. Active colts’ organisation began in Cape Coast in the late ‘50s, precisely in 1958. The ten colts Association which guided the affairs of the clubs was named Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association with Mr Abraham H. Otoo as the chairman. There were eight clubs namely, George Ainsley, Great Massacres, Great Hyrax, Great Halifax, Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Dundee United and Royal Stars, under the umbrella of the Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association. Competitions among the eight clubs were always very keen and exciting. The Association mainly run its league with boys within the 4ft 8ins – 4ft 11 inches heights. The Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association gave then, the citizenry of Cape coast, the baptismal interest in colts’ football. Round about 1962, the activities of the Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association dwindled probably due to some small misunderstanding and colts’ football virtually ebbed away. To help keep and sustain interest in colts’ football, football enthusiasts took upon themselves interest in colts’ football, football enthusiasts took upon themselves to organise one or two colts clubs to maintain constant rivalry.

It is interesting to note that the first part of the history of Cape Coast Manchester United Colts Club began when, there were still hot activities in the Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association’s league. United did not seek affiliation to the Cape Coast Juvenile Football Association. This was mainly because the young boys who were then nucleus of the original team named Hot Givers, were rather largely interested in the seven-a-side games played at the Philip Quaque Girls school park. After the activities of the pioneer colts association had come to an end, interest were largely centred on the Philip Quaque Girls School park league where Hot Givers, later to be known as Manchester United reigned supreme. Hot Givers, as a club was founded by Messrs, I.F.B. Koufie, B. A. Asare, F.K. Gym Bash and Job Abban. On 15th April, 1960, the club was reconstituted and renamed Manchester United after the great Reds of Old Trafford, England. The club received recognition from Manchester United FC. Ltd., of England in 1968, as babies of the great Manchester cult. The club now reborn, dominated the activities of the Coronation Football Association in the ever popular seven-a-side football league. The clubs who were in the other competition in the league were, Real Ambassadors, Great Halifax, Great Hyrax, Prec Eleven, and Rock of Ages. The brains behind the Coronation Football Association were the Borde-Koufie brothers – Ernest and Theophilus – Graham and Akwasi Boakye. The organisational abilities of these gentlemen mainly upheld the dignity of colts’ football in the Cape Coast Municipality during that time. Manchester United were fortunate to find in Lawyer I.K. Abban, now a justice of the supreme court of Ghana, who greatly financed the club and offered the premises of his house for the club’s meetings. Mr. C.C.H. Annobil was elected the first chairman of the club. The disbanded Young Pioneer Movement took keen interest in the activities of the Coronation Football Association and later talked the officials of the Association into moving to the Cape Coast Sports Council Park where all colts clubs were to play with eleven boys in the four feet ten inches and five feet two inches divisions respectively. It is worthwhile mentioning here that Mr. Francis Serlormey, the former Director of Sports, was the Central Regional Sports Organiser. He took active interest in colts’ football activities and even sometimes used his own car to convey players to the stadium. The first competition organised by the Young Pioneer Movement was a knock-out contest which was won by Great Hyrax. Manchester United were semi-finalists. The 1966 coup which ousted the Nkrumah regime also saw the disbandment of the Young Pioneer Movement, the organisers of the colts’ completion. With the organisers fall came in its virtual ‘death’ of colts’ football in Cape Coast. In the later part of 1966 however, some gentlemen who had colts’ football at heart, formed the Cape Coast District Colts Football Association. The organisers were Messrs H. Plas Otwe as the chairman, Abraham Saad as Secretary, ~George Gillette as the Financial Secretary and Kwame Ampiah as Executive members. Below is a catalogue of the Manchester United’s team officials since 1960. CCH. Annobil Esq. - 1960 - 1966 Owusu Boakye Esq. - 1966 - 1968 Alhaji Olasupo - 1968 - 1970 Ekow Ntarmah Esq. - 1970 - 1974

Mr. George Gillette has the honour of serving on all Executive both present and past as the Secretary. Mr. Isaac Borde-Koufie was the Team Manager or United since the inception of the club to 1969 when he was transferred to Takoradi. Mr. Ernest Asare then took over form where Mr. Borde-Koufie left off and continued with the team management work. The present team manager of the club Mr. Hatt. Obeng, took office in the latter part of 1971, Messrs J.B. Mensah and J.K. Biney have been the coaches of the club since its inception. So far since the inception of this great colt club, the club has lived up to its motor: VEL PRIMUS VELCUM PRIMIS, as the list of honours below shows, the club has always tried to be either the first or with the first in every competition. HONOURS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS - 1963 - Coronation F.A. Cup “ - 1964 - Coronation F.A. Cup “ - 1967 - District Colts F .A. Cup - 4’ 11” “ - 1968 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 4’ 11” “ - 1969/1970 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 5’ 3” LEAGUE RUNNERS UP - 1969/1970 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 4’ 11”

KNOCK-OUT CHAMPS. - 1963 - Coronation F.A. Cup -

KNOCK-OUT CHAMPS. - 1968 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 4’ 11” KNOCK-OUT CHAMPS. - 1969 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 4’ 11 KNOCK-OUT CHAMPS. - 1971/72 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 5’ 3” KNOCK-OUT FINALISTS - 1969/70 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 5’ 3” KNOCK-OUT FINALISTS - 1971/72 - District Colts F.A. Cup - 4’ 11”

CUP WINNER - 1964 - Mr. Halm’s Challenge Trophy - 5’ 3”

CHAMPIONS OF CENTREAL REGION - 1968/69 - 4’ 11” CHAMPIONS OF WESTERN/ CENTRAL - 1969/1970 - 4’ 11”

The club has been able to stand the test of time with the help of the Executive and the patrons who are: Messrs Ekow Ntrarnah, the club chairman, E.A. Mensah, Dr. E. Mercer-Ricketts, Philip E. Dean, Aye Danquah, S. Bossman Aggrey, K.A. Sarpong, S.L. Ackah-Yensu and Rev. Hudson. Apart from the executive, we receive help from Embassies: - French, American, Hungarian and the British Council. These Embassies help us with offers of books and football gifts for our Annual Speech and Prize-Giving ceremonies. We are sincerely grateful to these Embassies. We look to their continued support. Now to look at the capabilities of this great club. Apart from the soccer prowess of the club, Manchester United have been able to produce top class players who play for first and second division clubs. Among the top players the club has produced are James Gyepi, James Cooke, Joseph Carr, Robert Koufie, Justice Moore, Ewudzie, John Ghansah, Joseph Otoo and Francis Edzie Jnr., all of Cape Coast Dwarfs. Others are Francis Addoe, Emmanuel Quashie, John Abakah and Samuel Amporful all of Cape Coast Vipers. The rest are Jude Grunshie and William Blankson of Defence Stars and Kobina Tandoh of Kumasi Cornerstones. THANK YOU, UNCLE KOJO GILLETTE – KING!

Personal tribute to Uncle Kojo King George Gillette of Coronation Street, Cape Coast, Ghana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWq2zQc_TLw Captain of Israel's host, and Guide Of all who seek the land above, Beneath Thy shadow we abide, The cloud of Thy protecting love; Our strength, Thy grace; our rule, Thy Word; Our end, the glory of the Lord. By Thine unerring Spirit led, We shall not in the desert stray; We shall not full direction need Nor miss our providential way; As far from danger as from fear, While Love, almighty Love, is near Charles Wesley!

Tribute to George King Gillette of Cape Coast – Founder of Manchester United Colts Football Club Uncle Kojo was laid in State today at his beloved St Francis Cathedral Catholic Church of Cape Coast, before lying peacefully in eternity among the Saints of Old after a decade of ill-health. He did well, our unassuming unsung hero!!! The tall gangly ebony Black gentleman, was adored by us as our “Captain of Israel host and guide...”. Mr Gillette was the Founder of Manchester United Colts Football Club in Cape Coast, Ghana. He wrote about his Club in his own words below, and as usual: We sought recognition from the famous parent club at Old Trafford, but were asked to request for a personalised message. Mr Gillette worked as Stenographer Secretary and Personal Assistant of the Headmaster of Adisadel College of Ghana. He was serene, genial, respectful man in his trademark clean white shirt, wearing a quiet permanent smile on his handsome face. Unc’ Kojo was always very quiet, at any point in time. He was the Owner of Manchester United Colts Football Club based in Coronation Street in Cape Coast, but signed himself as Secretary of CCMUCFC. He recruited boys through his network of agents who watched 5-a-side or 7-a-side local park football. He recruited on football skills and conduct. You have to go to school and not reported for being rude at any elder and such indiscipline acts. Uncle Kojo ran a 4’ 11” Junior side called Busby Babes, and Senior 5’ 3” side - Manchester United. It was an unbelievable trip being in this team in early late 1960s and 1970s. Uncle Kojo organised training sessions at Mfantsipim College Park under Coach J B Mensah, with Guest Top Players like Captain Aggrey Fynn, Coach Adabie, Ben Kuofie, Edwin Conduah etc. chipping in. We ran and ran and ran around the big Park, dribbling and man marking, playing man to man football, 2 against 1, to 2 against 3, and upwards to big game tactical play at gruesome training sessions with so many talented natural footballers, all week long. Then the big Day would come on Friday. Uncle Kojo would walk majestically to the Centre to announce the team going to Camp that Friday Night. When you are lucky to be Selected, then you go to for our next sweet ride, with consent and blessings of our parents…In the Camp of about 30 Junior and Senior Players at Philip Quaque Girls School….included at various times and seasons depending on your height, Emmanuel Quarshie, Gyepi and Kyekye Acquah, Ebow Tandoh, Meedi, Ekow Moore, Kojo Yorke, Cooke Brothers, Etrew, Amuzu, Edzie, Bohams, Ampoful, Bash Shittu, Armah, Charles Nunoo, Joseph Carr, Abaka, Otoos, Coleman, Ewudzies, Addo,, Boaful Nyarko, Gustav, Jomo, Cobbina. I used to go to camp with these great footballers and had real good time of our lives. It was spiritual! He was Catholic and generous…. At dusk his lieutenants would come and serve us sumptuous cups of tea and bread &cheese session, we love most…We would read soccer magazines and Bulletins and mill around to sleep….then…you suddenly hear….he is here…Uncle Kojo, has come, you hear the muttering voices in the dark, as he walked imperiously like a Saint into the Classroom. So quiet. We would stand up and hold our hands in circle…then he would bellow to our anchor and chorus thus –“Jesus…Stand Among us…in the risen sun…let this time of worship…”…and then…”Captain of Israel host and guide, All For who see the land above”…..more hymns, of incense and holy water, singing, praying with sermon and inspirational messages from the Master himself all in the quiet midnight darkness….After the Prayer session, we would all strip jerseys and jog quietly with the seniors to the Coastal Beach behind Victoria Park, when it’s all clear…We would chat happily and dip into the sea in turns and chill out back to the Girls school to have a good sound sleep. In the morning we would converge in his Family House in Coronation to have a light breakfast and then go back to sleep…At noon we would have a big meal and get ready for the Afternoon Match at Victoria Park. Uncle Kojo announces the Team playing for both 2 Sides and was always tense…He would take his turn in the middle of the touchline, cross legged for the duration of the Match not saying a word but oozing support and strategy for the wonderful team. We all looked forward to half-time, where we had our biggest treat of having a nice cold milk drink mixed with glucose. We loved that drink!!! It was sweet and refreshing, and the secret of our great come backs. Most of our team members achieved higher qualification in education, largely due to how we comported ourselves. In our time, we played against Real Republicans owned by legendary Sprinter George Daniels from US with his Jerseys, Great Massacres of ‘Buronyi Saad’, and Central Rovers of the Hausa Moslem Community…Indeed, the Colts Football Matches was electrifying in that town of beautiful nonsense. The crowds were huge and talent abound exhibiting high quality football. Many went on to Stardom, some playing for Top Clubs, from where they went to the National Teams – Black Stars, Black Meteors, Academicals…whiles the rest of us used it in school football to run rings around our mates to their shock…Football in the mid-1960s to mid-1970 across the country was well patronised, sponsored by generous men and women of substance, celebrated and well organised culminating in National Football Colts Festival of selected Regional teams. Mr Gillette was one of the philanthropists who spent all his earnings on the development of Soccer at grassroots level. He was ably supported as he narrates well…in his own words thus: I loved him…I always visited him at home, and communicated with him… Thank you very much Rest in Peace, King Gillette!