By Alan Fenty
Quite justifiably, the name Camptown evokes memories of the famous Chronicle Atlantic Symphony steel and Brass Orchestra. That is because Camptown’s founder, Rudy “Boysie” Bishop, established and located the country’s premier steel-band in that challenged community of Campbellville back in 1972.
Now, however, Camptown easily conjures up images of the highly successful and consistent champion Team – Camptown Football Club although the area has produced more than successful footballers.
The Camptown Youth, Sports and Culture Organisation (CYSCO) – to give its formal registered title, is today celebrating its 40th year of existence.
The first of several anniversary events is a grand Old Folks Luncheon honouring those Campbellville elders still around, many of whom inspired Bishop to inveigle then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham to provide infrastructural resources, at short notice, under amusing and rainy circumstances.
Bishop, in 1972, besides being leader of the relatively new and successful Chronicle Atlantic Symphony, was a community activist who lamented the lack of sports facilities for the restless youths of the Kitty, Cambellville and Newtown Kitty areas. Camptown itself is derived from Campbellville and Newtown.
During a tour of steel band pan yards, the shrewd Bishop guided his Comrade Leader to the Campbellville community ground which was fortunately, quite flooded. A sympathetic Prime Minister immediately summoned veteran contractor Raymond King to fill the ground and construct a brand new community centre. By 1973, the ground “across the road” – First Street, Campbellville, was similarly treated to become the Camptown Playfield and football ground of today.
But Bishop’s brainchild, Camptown, has been the cradle of scores of champion sportsmen and women over the years and not only footballers. The following paragraphs will most likely surprise sports-lovers when they realise the rich legacy of sporting champions produced by Camptown.
The now obvious, most known, fact is the sterling contributions of Camptown football Club to the local game. Colin and Joslyn Hinds, the late Dereck `Pucker’ Anderson, Elson “Chiddi Kong” Hinckson, Dereck Murray, Neil and Brian `Gold Head’ O’Choa, Lennox “Coachie” Arjoon, Nigel `Powers’ Codrington and Jermaine Smartt were all national players who ensured that Camptown was never demoted from the first division of local football. Camptown won everything from time to time, Kashif and Shanghai, President’s Cup, et al.
Bishop also never tires of telling that his son Steve, a good striker, scored the fastest ever goal in the Kashif and Shanghai competition – a goal in the first minute! At Linden. (His photograph is still hung in the Mackenzie Sports Club)
Noteworthy too is that John Birkett, (the first Head Coach originally of the small Campbellville Youth Club), the Adonises (Noel and Lawrence) and Brown brothers were all instrumental in the formation of Camptown Football Club in 1974.
But it’s at athletics that Camptown sprang surprises with its output of champions. First, coach Lennox “Muddy” Stewart gave Guyana Oliver Alves, Wavney Benn, Anthony October, the Collision brothers, June-Marcia Griffith, Butch Carrington and Clifton Schultz, who actually beat Jamaican Don Quarrie in a meet at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda in 1975.
Some of these athletes, Rudy conceded, were from the Harriers Sports Club before aligning themselves with Camptown.
Again, somewhat surprisingly, Camptown provided the gym at which boxers Lennox Blackmore, Fitzroy Whyte, Godfrey (Baafuh) Watson (once an amateur champ) and Patrick Forde trained for many of their championship fights.
Besides the Camptown Girls Club, according to founder Bishop, table tennis coach Ashton Arthur, himself a former national player, helped to produce the Abels and others who excelled in that game.
So now you know: today’s 40 – year Camptown was much more than a football entity.
No wonder Rudy is now back home straining every nerve and sinew to resuscitate its status and pride. All willing to assist in this are welcome.
