WATERHOUSE are on a bold drive to be a more prominent and consistent competitor while participating in local football as well as in the wider Caribbean competitions.

This is based on a programme of expansion being put in place, which is the brainchild of coach Anthony Patrick with the assistance of the Waterhouse management team.

“Nothing is ever achieved by standing still,” the forward-thinking coach postulated to the Jamaica Observer in an interview about his plans for the upcoming season.

“Therefore,” he continued, “in an effort for the club to continue to mount its forward momentum to be among the best in the region, we cannot afford to sit back and rest on the achievements of last season.

“On reflection of last season, we had a wonderful run. It was just unfortunate that we lost in the final of the Red Stripe Premier League after going 21 games unbeaten. To lose in the final after that amazing run from the youngsters obviously set the tone for forward mobility and showed that we will have to redouble our efforts for the upcoming season to take the challenge farther by strengthening our ranks.

“And in so doing we have made some critical adjustments to the team structure by adding a few capable national and former national ingredients to the squad who are in fact still youngsters. So as you can see, we are definitely trying to put our best foot forward and see how far we can continue the challenge this year.”

Asked to point out areas of concerns and some of the skills acquired, Patrick said: “Waterhouse were strong in all its various departments, but we thought it wise to acquire the services of some experienced players, especially at the back (defence) and also in the midfield areas. However, the youngsters who guided the ship last season before the arrival of these players are still part of the central team structure.”

Patrick said that despite how well any team plays, there is always room for improvement therein and with the added services of the senior players, their presence will unmistakably take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of the youngsters who are already entrenched.

Some of the big signings include Evan Taylor, formerly of MoBay United, Upston Edwards, formerly of Portmore United, Adoah Nickle, also formerly of Portmore United, Damion Binns, Portmore United; the return to the line-up from the USA of dynamic midfielder Kenardo Forbes along with Ryan Swire of Bridgeport and Cordel Benbow, formerly of St George’s College.

The backline to face the coming season has a look of being well fortified with the ever-present Nicholy Finlayson, Taylor, Oshane Roberts, Hughan Gray, and skipper Damarley Samuels.

The midfield will be marshalled by the return from injury of Vincent Earle, working steadily towards regaining his peak performances; the deceptive Romario Campbell, Weston Forrest, another goal-scoring middle man and former skipper Forbes.

With this combination of some highly talented and skilful players operating out of midfield, coach Patrick is expecting his front men, led by Jermaine Anderson, Juvaune Benjamin, Kenroy Howell, Cordel Benbow and Neiko Williams to be provided with the level of telling passes in an attempt to attain the objective set out by the club to be achieved for the upcoming season and beyond.