The Fatima College old boys were out in their numbers yesterday afternoon. So too were those of the current generation. Together, they saw a new chapter written in their school's football history.
A goal in each half from Chad De Freitas and Makesi Lewis was enough to give Fatima the 2005 RBTT InterCol trophy, 2-1 over St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive.
Not even the goal of the game late in the afternoon at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from Daniel Joseph could change the result.
It was sweet victory after 24 years. Victory that reversed the result of the 1981 final when a Garth Pollonais goal gave the fresh, new "Green Machine" the win.
Yesterday, though, the colour of choice was yellow and blue. It was the perfect way to cap the school's 60th anniversary.
And to the roll of honour at Mucurapo Road, alongside 1965 InterCol heroes Everald "Gally" Cummings, Tony Weekes and Roger Duprey, and the '79 stars, Garnet Craig, Graeme Rodriguez, Anton Corneal and Kenwyn Nancoo, can now be added De Freitas, Lewis, skipper Machel James and the rest.
The cast of 2005 earned glory for themselves with a workmanlike, efficient display that once more proved difficult for their opponents to master.
Again, it was the aggression and purpose of coach Errol McFarlaine's charges which guaranteed Fatima's second win in three national InterCol final clashes with St Augustine. It was their third win overall.
In 1979, Craig and company had to get past Garth Pollonais in attack and Hyron Best (now Jamaal Shabazz) in goal.
Yesterday, the path to victory was perhaps smoother.
St Augustine, the East Zone champions, vying to add the national crown to last year's Big Five League triumph, struggled to break down the Fatima midfield and defence, especially in the first half.
And they went in at half-time 1-0 down after De Freitas had punished some lax defending.
Restored to the starting line-up for the final, he managed to somehow keep possession of the ball despite the attention of two defenders following Lewis' through ball, which he stroked past goalkeeper Johnathan Chance in the 14th minute.
Fatima were good for their half-time lead.
And twice inside the first 15 minutes of the second period, powerful, dangerous long-range strikes from midfielders Jevon Morris and Kevon Villaroel could have tripled their advantage.
Eventualy, though, Lewis did so, side-footing past Chance in the 53rd minute following the careless, fatal loss of possession by an adjacent St Augustine defender.
The game seemed up for the "Machine" but they kept trying and, as time wound down, began to penetrate more along the flanks against a now retreating Fatima.
Ten minutes from the end, Joseph gave them a real scare with a well taken one-time volley from just inside the 18-metre box, left side, which flew across keeper Adrian Foncette and into the far corner of the net.
It added more spice to the slight unrest brewing between the two sets of supporters in the main stand.
Order prevailed. But things might have been different had St Augustine substitute Mark Alibey not got it wrong. He was just outside the six-metre box, injury time ticking away, when from a left side cross, he curled his shot overbars. It was the last kick of the game.
Too late for another revving up of the "Machine".
Fatima were going home with the trophy.
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