Glowing tributes for Holy Trinity’s Jordan Foote

Former Holy Trinity High School football representative Jordan Foote was remembered with glowing tributes during a packed funeral at the Arnold Road Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston yesterday.

Jordan, who lived and breathed football, was laid to rest in a Manchester United-styled coffin. The lnternment took place at the Dovecot Memorial Park.

He was born Jordan Jerome Foote on June 1, 1997 and lost his battle with bone cancer at the University Hospital of the West Indies on March 5.

Foote almost single-handedly led the unheralded Holy Trinity High School to the FLOW Super Cup final in 2014.

Left behind

He left behind mother Nadine Sutherland, father Cavel, and five brothers, among other relatives and friends.

Ryan Foote, his older brother, recalled Jordan as his "prized possession".

"My little brother who I looked up to in football, I love you. Words can't describe," he said.

Ryan thanked the generous sponsors who rallied to Foote's aid, the Holy Trinity High School, and others, while singling out Manning cup coach Devon Anderson as "man of the moment" for his role in Jordan's life.

Anderson later shared with The Gleaner: "I still think I didn't do enough. He was like a son to me."

Jordan attended Elletson Primary School from 2004-2009 before moving on to Holy Trinity High between 2009 and 2015.

Holy Trinity's Manning Cup team's vice captain Karim Brown, who has known Jordan for over five years, said: "It is very sad. He is the one who inspired me to start playing for Holy Trinity. Before I went to the school, I was hearing about him and I looked up to him."

Principal Margaret Brissett-Bolt affectionately called Jordan "my number 10", adding farewell to to Jordan "who we all loved".

She added: "Jordan and his team put us on the map as football players that everyone had to take a second look at, and at the time when Jordan got ill, that was when I knew there was so much that was correct and right with Jamaica," the Holy Trinity principal stressed as she spoke of the financial assistance Foote received to do his surgery.

Central Kingston Member of Parliament and former Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites, shared: "On behalf of the people of Central Kingston, I offer sincere sympathies to his family and to the colleagues at Holy Trinity High School, the students making marvellous strides in wholesome education."

Captain Horace Burrell, Jamaica Football Federation president, on his way to Costa Rica for tomorrow's return leg World Cup qualifying football match, stopped to deliver his message.

"Having lost a son around about the same age, I kind of understand how it feels and sincere condolences to the parents, other family members, to the school, and to all the football fraternity and we mourn with the parents.We ask that those who are close to the parents give support," Burrell outlined.

Tributes

Other tributes came from Saccheen Laing, who read a poem to her 'friend'; Michael Ricketts, Clarendon Football Association president; Holy Trinity and Hydel High Schools; Marlon Campbell - St Catherine High; family friend Karen Edmond, and the education ministry, courtesy of Sergeant Coleridge Minto, director of safety and security in schools.

The offering collected will go towards the Jordan Foote Foundation.