Swindon Town’s Under-13 side is here this week for three exhibition matches and the first one was against Academy’s finest on Sunday. Little Sebastian Martinez is the link between the two sides. The 13-year-old wonder kid was so brilliant for Virgil Seymour’s Academy teams that last summer he got a trial with Swindon, the English professional side and did so well that he is now on an 18-month professional contract there.
It is a marvellous achievement for a Caymanian youngster which justifies all the sponsorship and support Martinez has attracted and why there was a sizeable crowd at the TE McField Annex. It finished 1-1 in an entertaining game. Unfortunately, one of the Swindon players was rushed to hospital with a leg injury and hopefully he will make a full and speedy recovery.
Refereeing that match was Gary ‘The Original’ Whittaker who is 47 but already has 30 years experience as an official. “It was an easy game to ref,” Whittaker said. “It was really fast paced though. Sometimes I don’t run as much with senior games.
“Really fast and intense. The Academy youngsters did well but at times they showed signs of stage fright and got themselves in trouble. It shows how well Virgil has developed his kids, give him credit.
“Sebastian is a good little player. He is very skilful and this is a great opportunity for him. Depending on how he does will reflect on our system. Hopefully, he will be a good ambassador and maybe some of our other youngsters will get a chance.”
Whittaker says he feels like the “grandfather” of refereeing in the Cayman Islands. Immersed in football since childhood, he often played then took charge of games immediately after. His three sons are all avid players now. Gary Junior, 21, plays for Elite reserves and Codi and Chase are with Academy.
Like many football officials here, Whittaker, who is a CUC line superintendent, finds his time stretched because of work and family commitments. Nevertheless, he works a full day from 7.30am to 3.30pm to ensure he is available for youth matches from 4pm. Very occasionally refs cannot make it to youth matches and parents get irate. “We have a lot of parents criticising us but they should come out and do a ref’s course and assist. Parents should be more involved and attend more matches to support their kids.”
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