Toronto-Carib-Soc-History 1

The development of the beautiful game took a giant step forward in Toronto when members of the community launched the Contrast Cup competition in 1970. The Contrast Cup was a soccer competition sponsored by the Contrast Newspaper for teams solely from Caribbean teams. The idea came about after community leaders requested assistance from the Contrast newspaper in running a soccer competition. The founder of the newspaper, Al Hamilton, and Contrast at the time represented the black community in Toronto. Ironically, Al Hamilton agreed to sponsor the Contrast Cup soccer competition just over a year after the Contrast's first publication hit the West Indian stores in February 1969.

Several Caribbean clubs were formed in 1970, and the Contrast Cup was exactly what the doctor ordered for soccer in the Caribbe an community. Word of the Con trast Cup competition spread, and there was a lot of hype when the schedule was published. Based on most clubs' nationalistic names and identities, combined with the adopted knockout format, everyone was relieved to have a competition of their own, but they also anticipated an intense level of play. Some of the early teams were West Indies United, Marlee United, Barbados, a Guyanese team named Toronto Reunion, Iere and St Lucia Flyers. West Indies United was the best, setting the standard, since the club had already been in existence for two years. https://starssoccerreview.com

There were some former West Indies United players, as well as several national and first - division players who had migrated to Toronto, such as Henry Quanvie and Allan Callender. However, a soccer alert should have been sounded when West Indies United filled their somewhat depleted roster for the ’70 season with players such as Billy Griffiths, Donald Pearce, Earle “ Buggs ” Nelson, Leo Jackson, Derryck “ Sammy ” Samuels and Peter Hamilton. Barbados and St Lucia Flyers were formed before the Iere club, and they bolstered their rosters after convincing some of their talented footballers who were playing cricket to commit to the soccer team . The Contrast Cup was the first soccer competition for West Indian teams in Toronto.