HISTORY IN GAMBIAN FOOTBALL PART 1

 Playing football had been existing in The Gambia since the early 20’s mostly in the streets of Bathurst now called Banjul and in the 30’s players were playing at the MacCarthy Square now called 22nd July Square.

In 1940 a league was formed call the Bathurst League comprising only teams in Bathurst (Banjul) Augustinians, East End Lions, Dingareh, Hotspur, School XI, Young Lions, Gambia United, RAF, Navy, MSU, Heroes, and Black Diamonds. All matches were played at the MacCarthy Square, and during this period fitness trophies and friendly matches were played. Coronation Cup and Black & White Cup were contested.

Musa Fatty.The Author and Publicize of this Sports Blog

It was on the 3rd of November 1952 that The Gambia Football Association was formed, that they affiliated with the Football world governing body FIFA and CAF.

During this period there was no congress 1952 – 1955, a white man working at the Medical and Health Office call R.C. Roscoe, who was chosen to take charge of running the affairs of GFA, he was the secretary and also the officer in charge of the National team then.

UAC, Augustinians, Gambia Regiment, Rainbow, Gambia United, Police, Prisons, Medical XI and White Phantoms all registered. There was no relegation, no promotion, during this period, unlike the early period, teams used to form their 2nd teams only to recruit from them.

It was later introduced as (2nd division) 1954/55 football Season President FA XI, President Cricket, XI Government Non Government, Atomic and it was Atomic FC was the first team to be promoted to Division one.

During this period a land was allocated to the GFA, called the Box Bar Stadium named after a white man called Mr. Box Bar. All teams contributed in clearing the area and the first FA Cup final was played at the Box Bar Stadium 05/07 1952. The result of first FA Cup final was Gambia United 2 Augustinians 1 and the first international match played at the Box Bar Stadium before thousands of  home supporters was against Guinea Bissau 02/06/1953 and Bissau won by 3 goals to 1. It means Gambia started their international football friendly with home defeat way back in 1953 under the management of R.C Roscoe.

Other friendly matches were played under R.C Roscoe management.

2/01/53	GFA XI	3	Teachers Union	1
9/02/53	Gambia	2	Sierra Leone	1
2/06/53	Gambia	1	Bissau	2
8/06/53	Bissau	1	Gambia	0
4/06/54	Gambia	2	European XI	0
14/11/54	Gambia	2	HM Pelican	1

In 1955 the first congress was held and BO Janneh was elected as the first President.

The Executive members

B.O. Janneh	President
W.B. Thomas	Vice President
R.C. Roscoe	Hon. Secretary
M.O. Mboob	Treasurer
J. Hill (Whiteman)	Trustee
T. Draper (Whiteman)	Auditor
O.K. Saho	Grounds men
L. Prom	Grounds men

The divisional matches were not well organised, so 1991/92 football teams were reintroduced again, Peakmarwick, Joggifans, Flamemins, Waterside, Linguere, Steve Biko and GPA.

2003/2004 football season Gambia was eliminated in the world cup qualifying and the African Nation 16/11/03 Gambia 0 Liberia 3 for 2 years. The President Alhagie Gabbi Sosseh set up an enquiry headed by Gyra Lamin. The Technical Director Sang Ndong and his entire staff were sacked. GFA decided not to play international matches, and the decision annoyed nearly all the teams in the league, more than sixty teams wrote a letter to The GFA requesting an immediate resignation of the GFA President and called on VOTE OF NO CONFIDENT. He was impeached on the 7/11/04 at the Independence Stadium. A Congress was held and Alhagie Omar Sey was elected President.

To be continued in our subsequent editions where I hope to bring you the Gambia’s first away match to Sierra Leone In 31/10/1956, played against the Rural Areas (Freetown) and The Gambia emerged victorious.