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Charlie Smith High School

Situated on Ninth Street in the tough inner-city community of South St Andrew, Charlie Smith is that ray of hope that often unites warring factions. When the school's football team is doing well, lives are positively impacted.

The institution, which was built in 1975, is then Jones Town Comprehensive and with a student population of approximately 1,200. The school's name was changed in the 1980s to Charlie Smith in honor of a social worker who served the community well. The 39-year-old institution, with the motto "Effort the key to success", is rich in the tradition of cultural arts, but sport — and football in particular -- has been its shining beacon following the success of the football team in the Manning Cup competition.

Charlie Smith High School Entered the Manning Cup in 1979, they reached their first semifinal in 1985.

Charlie Smith, despite losing the Manning Cup final in 1986 to Kingston College (KC), became a household name with the likes of players Christopher 'Belly' Diaz, Desmond 'Gorilla' Davey and Eugene 'Big Head' Williams. They didn't have to wait long to taste success, and two years after, under the tutelage of coach Oliver Clue, Charlie Smith won the first of their three Manning Cup titles in 1988 with one lethal Byron Earle leading the way. They subsequently won in 1990 and their winning 1995 outfit is considered one of the best schoolboy teams of all time. That team comprised Kevin 'Pele' Wilson, who made his senior Jamaican debut at age 17 and scored against Norway in his first game. Also, there were Cornel Chin-Sue, Eugene Barnes, Kwame Richardson and Everton Bunsie, who were other outstanding members of that team. Charlie Smith's last success came in 2002 when they won their second Walker Cup knockout title.

All Manning Cup finals :

  • 1. 1986 lost to KC (1-0)
  • 2. 1988 won Dunoon (4-3) Pk
  • 3. 1989 lost to XLCR (1-0)
  • 4. 1990 won C. Down (5-4) Pk
  • 5. 1995 won Wolmer’s (3-0)
  • 6. 2011 lost to STGC (3-1)
  • 7. 2015 lost to JC (2-1)

    • All Walker Cup Finals :

  • 1. 1994 lost to Tivoli (4-0)
  • 2. 1995 won N. Manley (2-0)
  • 3. 2002 won KC (1-0)

    • Olivier Shield Finals :

  • 1. 1988 won Herbert Morrison (2-0)
  • 2. 1990 shared with Ruseas' (0-0)
  • 3. 1995 won Cornwall College (3-1)

    • Meet The Captain

    Eugene 'Mutt' Barnes

    Charlie Smith High School

    Eugene 'Mutt" Barnes has been a leader since he was playing Ken Matthews U14 for Jones Town. He started Charlie Smith High School in 1988-89. He started with the colts' team 1990-1992 whilst playing Manning Cup. Hi first Manning Cup game was 1992 under then Coach Oliver Clue and assistant Jerome Waite. As a young player he was delighted to play Manning Cup alongside the likes of Leroy 'Leego' Smith and Marvin "Kempes" Bartley, he made it to the semifinals in his first year but was not so lucky in his sophomore year. In 1994 "Mutt' Captained Charlie' to the Walker Cup finals in 1994 which they lost to Tivoli Gardens High school, they also tied with eventual Manning Cup winners Wolmer's Boys High. Eugene's captaincy came into the forefront in1995 when he marshalled the one of the best or arguably the best schoolboy team in this era. Charlie dominated the 1995 schoolboy campaign, they won T

    the Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Sheild under the guidance of Jerome Waite.

    Eugene "Mutt" Barnes went on to represent the Jamaica National team in the '98 World Cup Campaign. He also won the Jamaica Premier Leage with Arnette Gardens. He migrated to the USA where he played semi professional football in New York.