Name: Aaron Downing.
Position: Striker.
Schools: Union Claxton Bay (Trinidad), Couva Junior Sec (Trinidad), Naparima College (Trinidad).
Club: Royal White Star Woluwe FC (Belgium, currently on loan from Sheffield United, Feb-2007 to present).
Previous Clubs: Couva Players United (Trinidad), W Connection FC (Trinidad, 1999 to Feb-2007), Sheffield United (England, 08-Feb-2007 to present).
DOB: 11-Jan-1988, (St Margarets Village, Claxton Bay).
NOTE: Aaron Downing was the deadliest marksman in the T&T 2003 Under-15 Pro-League competition when he scored 35 goals for his club W Connection, he also scored a goal for Connection's senior team in January of 2004.
Aaron impressed during a stint with English First Division club Walsall in September 2003 and impressed the manager so much that he along with his then W Connection team-mates Gorian Highley and Kemuel Rivers was invited for a second trial. In Febuary 2004, T&T under-17 coach Anton Corneal selected Downing to join his team for national training after being selected to represent T&T for the youth championship qualifying games. Aaron is was a member of the 2006 Under 20 national team. Downing was set to become the youngest T&T player to earn a professional contract with Falkirk but broke his leg before joining the Scottish club and his contract had to be terminated. In 2007 Aaron signed for English Premiership club Sheffield United on a 3 year deal and was loaned out to Belgium club Royal White Star Woluwe FC until he can obtain a work permit to play in England.

Aaron Downing breaks leg as W Connection shuts out Jabloteh 2-1.

By: Gregory Trujillo.
26-Jun-2004 - Aaron Downing, the talented left-footed national Under-17 striker, will have to sit out the rest of the football season. The 16-year-old broke his left foot in the fourth minute when he appeared for Vibe CT 105 W Connection against arch-rival San Juan Jabloteh in the Under-20 Division knockout final of the T&T Professional League on Thursday evening at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.
Downing had to be rushed to Medical Associates in St Joseph for medical attention and could not celebrate with his teammates following their 2-1 win over the San Juan side.
Because of the injury, the Naparima College student will not be able to take up a contract with Falkirk in the First Division of the Scottish League.
Downing was due to join former national captain Russell Latapy and countryman Brent Rahim at Falkirk in July, making him the youngest ever player from T&T to play as a professional overseas (Dwight Yorke was the youngest at aged 19 when he played for Aston Villa).
Downing broke his favoured left foot following a robust tackle from Andre Alexis inside Jabloteh’s half during a “W” attack.
Since graduating from the Under-16 squad to play against his elder counterparts, he scored in all four games in which he appeared. Jerron Johnson opened for W Connection, scoring in the 27th minute from the penalty spot. The kick was given for a foul on Kyle Cupid in the box.
In the 40th minute, Gorian Highley, who replaced Downing, increased WCFC’s lead to 2-0 when he got a pass on the left flank from midfielder Shane Calderon and dribbled his marker before shooting past goalkeeper Thorne Holder. Highley made up for a missed chance five minutes before when he hit straight to Holder in a one-and-one situation.
Jabloteh reduced the scores in the 65th through Ricardo Bennett, who was given enough room in midfield and ran through to hit away from goalie Colin Belgrave.
Five minutes from the end, Arnold Ferguson missed an opportunity to put WCFC further ahead — a square ball on the ground that was played to him was struck overbar from inside the six-yard box. Jabloteh ended the match with 10 men as Alexis was given marching orders for another careless foul on one of his opponents in the second-half.
As for Aaron Downing, the good news is that Falkirk are still interested and have given Downing the 5-6 months he will need to recover. Downing's leg was operated on last Saturday at Medical Associates in St Joseph to fix two fractures.
W Connection owner David John-Williams informed the Express on Saturday that he had spoken to Latapy on Friday and was assured they were still interested and that Downing will be given time to heal. John-Williams also said the player was a bit upset after recent events. "He (Aaron) is a bit on the down side," John-Williams said. "But he is still positive about his future."

W Connection gives birth to another star.

By: Joel Villafana.
09-Jun-2004 - On the horizon there is a young man by the name of Aaron Downing from W Connection creating waves on the football field. Downing, just a mere 16 year old has already had two stints in Europe and he continues to impress coaches both locally and abroad.
He is still a form 4 student at Naparima College, but Aaron had his first stint with English 1st division side Walsall back in September 2003 and this was followed by his recent 10 day stint in May this year with 1st division Scottish club Falkirk for which former national team captain Russell Latapy and Brent Rahim now plays.
The slimly built 16 year old striker is currently playing for Connection's under 20 team this season and has netted four goals so far-Downing is also in training with T&T's National under 20 team.
Young Aaron Downing described his recent trip to Scotland as very tough-he told the Pro-League, the conditions were cold and difficult and the guys were much bigger-but he said he adapted and was pleased with his showing at the end of it all.
Downing who has been with W Connection since he was a 12 years old said Sean Cooper and Kurtwin Baird, both youth coaches at W Connection were mainly responsible for his early development-the Naparima College student said while his education is important, he admitted making it as a professional footballer is his main goal.
The Pro League also caught up with Connection's under 16 coach Sean Cooper who saw Aaron bloom into the promising striker he is today.
Cooper said from the first time he saw Aaron he was impressed with his speed and fitness. The under 16 coach believes Aaron is one of the quickest youth strikers in the country, who has natural athletic ability.
Cooper also said young Downing is not anywhere close to full physical maturity and said when he puts on some muscle and gets stronger he is going to be a lethal striker and he will be a nightmare to goalkeepers.
Cooper is very confident that Aaron will go on to become one of this country's successful professional footballers and concluded by saying he doesn't even believe Aaron knows how much talent he really does possess.

Falkirk snaps up T&T’s Aaron Downing.

By Shaun Fuentes.
13-May-2004 - Young Trinidad and Tobago attacking player Aaron Downing has been signed by Scottish First Division club Falkirk. This was revealed to TTFF Media on Thursday by David John Williams, president of Vibe CT 105 W Connection FC, which Downing has been attached to.
Downing has been one of the outstanding players on the local youth level and has been on trial at Falkirk since earlier this month alongside fellow T&T youth players Gorian Highley and Matthew Bartholomew also of Connection.
Highley was named Secondary Schools “Player of the Year” for 2003. John Williams added that negotiations are still taking place on the length of Downing’s contract but the player has been snapped up by the club of former T&T skipper Russell Latapy and midfielder Brent Rahim who indicated that he was aware that the T&T trio had been in training at the club. "I'm aware that there are three guys from home over at the club and this can only be a good thing because they are being exposed to a professional atmosphere across here. I'm quite sure this move will be a positive one," Rahim told TTFF Media. This latest move is surely expected to have a positive impact following the recent jumps on the international stage by players from the Soca-land.
Aaron a national under-16 footballer has been the leading goal-getter in the Pro League's youth division for the last two years and caught the attention of Falkirk manager John Hughes and player/ coach, Trinidadian Rusell Latapy.
Downing and two of his W Connection teammates were on trial at the club for ten days and after impressing Falkirk officials he is set to become the youngest T&T player to earn a professional contract. The Naparima College student is expected to sign and join Falkirk for pre-season training in July.

W Connection youth trio for English trials.

TnT Newday.
11-Sept-2003 - Ace national Under-17 striker Gorean “Mickey Rat” Highley and two W Connection teammates striker Aaron Downing and midfielder Kemuel Rivers, left here on Tuesday for England where they will undergo an eight-day trial stint with English First Division team Walsall.
Highley, who also plays for Arima in the British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Downing, a student of Union Claxton Bay and Rivers, who attends Waterloo High School, will spend seven days attending training sessions with the Walsall youth teams and another day showing off their wares with the Walsall senior squad. Arrangements were made by FIFA registered agent David Baldwin in collaboration with W Connection owner David John-Williams. Baldwin revealed that the trio were officially invited to the English club last Saturday by manager Colin Lee to be a part of Walsall’s youth programme, which is set up in conjunction with English Premier League giants Manchester United.

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