MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Hardly anyone, who follows ISSA-run competitions will disagree with a statement that reads like this: “Manchester High School is the most improved schoolboy football team in the country. Certainly over the last five years.”

Not only do they boast an enviable programme — from the U-13s through to the U-19s — but, as captain Adrian Smart recently puts it, they have also been taking quite a few “bites at the title over the years”.

Since 2009 when they first announced their presence on the big stage by reaching the daCosta Cup final, they have maintained a consistent presence among the heavyweights. However, in a result-driven sport like football, near misses won’t cut it for long. Only silverware will truly earn them the respect of their more celebrated opponents.

Nobody knows this more than coach Sheldon Davis. “We need to get a trophy in the bag so that we can start a winning tradition,” he told the Jamaica Observer in May.

But while Manchester High, as an institution, are looking to solidify their improved status in the schoolboy game, their coach is also hoping to enhance his own reputation with the fans.

He’s the man who puts hours of hard work on the training pitch to get the players primed for competition. Yet, he’s rarely credited by supporters whenever the team hits a high note. However, he’s the first point of reference whenever they underperform.

Part of the reason for this is the lofty ambitions set for the team.

Their quest for success was born in 2009 when Barry Watson led them to the daCosta Cup final, which they lost 1-0 to STETHS. Two years later, when Watson cut ties with the school — leaving his then assistant Davis to succeed him — a lot of fans were left heartbroken. They felt that without the veteran coach at the helm, progress would stall.

Under Davis, however, Manchester continued to improve, reaching two Ben Francis Cup finals and a semi-final. He has even added to the programme by starting the Manchester Academy, a group of agegroup teams, competing successfully in parish-run competitions — winning the U-13, U-17 and the Manchester FA Division Two competitions earlier in the year.

And, like his mentor Watson, Davis also enjoys a big-brother relationship with his players, with team captain Adrian Smart recently hailing the coach as the most influential person in his life to date.

“From I was in first form, I would say he guided me maturely. He gave me that extra boost, the motivation to achieve my goals,” the young defender recently told the Observer. This alone, however, is just not satisfying enough for the fans. They want the promise to be fulfilled by trophies, which they believe would have been achieved long ago had Watson still been in charge. So, today, when Manchester take on STETHS in the final of the Ben Francis Cup at the STETHS grounds in St Elizabeth, the players won’t be the only ones on show. Coach Sheldon Davis will also be on display. Many believe this could even be his last chance.

— Oshane Tobias