Soccer in the 1960s

Whereas international cricket competition remained a combined West Indian effort through the turn of the 20^th century, T&T began to field its own soccer team in international competition after Independence from Great Britain was achieved in 1962. Shortly after gaining its independence, T&T became a member of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) and, in 1963, the TTFA became affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world soccer controlling body. CONCACAF was founded in 1961 and is comprised of 34 national associations. It is one of the organizing bodies of soccer in the western hemisphere, with its area of responsibility spanning from Canada in the North to Guyana in the South. With its membership in FIFA, T&T made its debut in World Cup competition in 1965.

During the 1960s, major league soccer continued its struggle to reach the international level without dedicated stadiums for generating revenue to attain this goal. In the north, the POSFL and NAFL continued to play most of their games at the Queen's Park Savannah where fans stood on the perimeter of the playing fields to watch some of the highest levels of competition for free. However, in an attempt to generate revenue, major games such as the Best Dark Virginia (BDV) Cup and the intercollegiate Alexander Cup finals were played at the Queen's Park Oval. Shamrock and Casuals exited First Division competition and most of these teams' players represented Queen's Park who re-entered soccer in 1967 after dropping out of the First Class competition in 1920. During the latter part of this decade, use of the Queen's Park Savannah for POSFL First Division play was on the wane and other venues began to be used: Queen's Park Oval; the Public Services Association field on Long Circular Road, St. James; and King George V Park in St. Clair.

Maple (see photo at right) proved to be the most dominant POSFL team by winning the League Championship in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1968, and 1969. Southern intercollegiate play was expanded in the 1960s to include St. Benedict's College which produced players such as Bobby Sookram, Henry Quanvie, and Leroy DeLeon who went on to make the T&T national team.

In 1967, T&T won the bronze medal at the Pan American Games with the following players:

The popularity of soccer in the USA rose to such a level that a professional league was formed in the late 1960s and the following T&T standouts were recruited to play in this new league: 1967 - Warren Archibald (New York Generals), Everald Cummings (Atlanta Chiefs), Leroy DeLeon (New York Generals), and Jan Steadman (New York Generals); 1968 - Alan Cupid (Baltimore Bays), Bertram Grell (Atlanta Chiefs), and Lincoln Phillips (Baltimore Bays); 1969 - Gerry Browne (Washington Darts) and Victor Gamaldo (Washington Darts).

1966 World Cup

CONCACAF Phase 1 - Group 2:  T&T made its debut in World Cup competition in 1965 grouped with Costa Rica and Surinam. T&T earned 2 points with a [W=1 T=0 L=3] record, after a home-and-away series with each country, placed last in the group, and did not advance. Players who competed included: Andy Aleong; Alvin Corneal; Clem Clarke; Tyrone De La Bastide; Aldwyn Ferguson; Kenneth Furlonge; Victor Gamaldo; Jeffrey Gellineau; Doyle Griffith; Sedley Joseph (Captain); Trevor Leacock; Lincoln Phillips; Pat Small; and Bobby Sookram.

1970 World Cup

CONCACAF Phase 1 - Group 2:  In 1968, T&T was grouped with Haiti and Guatemala and earned 3 points with a [W=1 T=1 L=2] record, after a two-game series with each country. T&T placed last in the group and did not advance. Players who competed included: Rawle Aimey; Warren Archibald; Brian Bain; Ken Butcher; Wilfred Cave; Everald Cummings; Gwenwyn Cust; Arnim David; Tyrone De La Bastide (Captain); Leroy De Leon; Ulric Haynes; Kenny Joseph; Jean Mouttet; Selwyn Murren; Keith Renaud; Lawrence Rondon; and Jan Steadman.

FA Cup