Roper Cup is more than just football

While the outside perspective would see St George’s College (STGC) and Kingston College (KC) as bitter rivals ahead of the Manning Cup season, the two school communities came together to re-establish their connection as neighbours at this year’s 60th staging of the Roper Cup.

Fans were treated to a string of football matches as the different generations went head-to-head at Winchester Park last Saturday.

Imar Walters, president of the STGC Old Boys Association (STGCOBA) said the Roper Cup stands as a symbol of unity between the two schools that share the North Street address.

“Persons might have us as rivals, but we’re neighbours who have a long history together,” he said.

“The Roper Cup is more than just football. It is important for us to always continue our camaraderie and show the younger generation that it is not about being at each other’s necks, but we’re really about camaraderie and building the community.”

In the opening game, KC’s under-16 team got the better of STGC under-16 in a dominant display, running away with the win in a 6-1 drubbing.

The ‘famed purples’ would continue with their winning form as they also took the win in the under-40 match, snatching the win 2-1.

In the over-40 fixture, there was little to separate the two teams as they played out a 1-1 draw at the end.

In the day’s feature match, it was another draw between the two schools as they played out an exciting 0-0 draw.

The result meant KC walked away with the Roper Cup title on an aggregate win of 2-1 between the under-40 and Manning Cup games.

Richard Lindsay, president of the KC Old Boys’ Association, welcomed another successful staging of the Roper Cup, which he described as an important event for both schools.

Lindsay said that despite their friendly rivalry, both communities should always recognise their common goal of peace and unity.

“I tell all the youngsters at KC this: at the end of the day even though we are competing against each other at this level, we will still be competing and representing one country. It is very important that even though we will compete, it should not surpass that into anything violent or anything aggressive.”