Willikies Football Club

Willikies Foundation came to life during lockdown. Kardar Challenger who was born in Antigua but now resides in the UK, felt the need to help out in the country that he originated from. What better place to begin than by supporting grass roots football in the very community that gave him such a great start many years ago. Willikies Foundation is raising funds to help support the local junior football club there. Here is a history of the inception of the club.

Willikies Football began in Willikies village in the late 1970’s – 1980’s. There were 6 teams who were playing for bragging rights.

• Cologne was a team from Calli, compromised of players such as: Bruce, Answorth and Wendy Harris, Emette Calas, Daryl Forde, Tony Quinland and others.

• Team Top-a-Hill boasted of players like: Cameron Paul (Cami), Berchel Andrew (Sewasi), Chesley Roberts, Errol Kirby better known as Sarsa, Hiliare Hosier and Tyrone Davis better known as Dowe.

• Cally had players like: Answorth Floyd aka Maybe, Luggage, Ian Hughes aka Hico, Paul Hazelwood, Janelle Peters and Junie Otto.

• Cine Team boasted players who were a force to be reckoned with, they included, Curi, Likkle, Ivan King, Prince Andrew, Haran and Keto George, and a fierce keeper, Molvin James.

• East end men consisted of, Mingo, Chesser James, Tonto, Winset, Althon Forde, Bryron Thomas, Secko and Slangmol Constant.

• Dredgeness Team consisted of players who followed the Rastafari beliefs. They were Saga Merrick, Boko Barnes, Slive and Demin just to name a few.

The Top-a-Hill team dominated a lot while Cologne were the runners up. Best keeper was Molvin James from Sine.

As the years progressed, football in Willikies was a dominating and exciting sport. Children of the original players started to join the fray to obtain their bragging rights. The community came alive with the hustle and bustle of ‘ball’. Can’t wait for weekend to go a parsa or college’. It was exciting. Players such as: Andy Charles, Conroy and Henderson Baltimore, Jabal, Tyson Baltimore, Backoff, Dwight and Brent Joseph, were a few of the boys who were fit to carry on the fight for the love of the game.

During the 1990’s, the Sporting Organisation was formed to advance the game of football throughout the length and breadth of Antigua and Barbuda. Its structure was: Second Division, First Division and the Premier. Teams had to follow the rules and regulations meted out by the Association. You had to play from the beginning and advance to the top flight, Premier. Willikies without a doubt, was playing Second Division Football. No coach was necessary as the guys put heads together and practiced amongst themselves getting ready for the matches. We won our games, played hard and progressed to the First Division. Community support got bigger. It was thrilling, seeing the boys climbing to the top of the table in record time. The team by putting together their money, bought their own uniforms and we wore them with pride.

Members from the club got together to officially form a club. As required by the Football Governing body an election was held and Mr. Eustace Lynch was chosen as the First President of WFC. Shortly thereafter his brother Edison Lynch was voted as President. During his tenure Edison work tirelessly to push WFC. The club was elevated to the Premier Division and just came short of winning that particular cup. We continued to work tirelessly, pushing forward to remain in the top 10 in the Premier Division. Recently elections were held at the end of 2019 and for the first time ever Willikies Football Club boasted of a female President, Ms. Darise James, the third female in Antigua and Barbuda in the ABFA Association to hold such a position.