Hope International Football Club is marking its Pearl Anniversary, celebrating three decades of football excellence from 1995 to 2025.
At a media launch held last Saturday, September 13, 2025, in the Conference Room of the National Sports Council, Arnos Vale, the club unveiled plans to commemorate the milestone.
Cametha John, the club\u2019s Secretary, shared details of the celebrations, which will commence with a Church Service. \u201cWe also plan to host a panel discussion on a football-related topic, conduct an international coaching clinic, hold a legends match, and recognize our members, fans, and supporters at a gala and awards ceremony,\u201d John explained.
Reflecting on the club\u2019s beginnings, Bevan Lewis, one of Hope International\u2019s founding members, recalled its formation. \u201cThough it splintered off Valley Stars, which competed in the Pepsi Sion Hill Football League in the 1980s and early 1990s, Hope International was born from the Roseau setup,\u201d Lewis said. He recounted how, after Valley Stars\u2019 disappointing 1994 season, his younger brother James Lewis gathered a core group of players and secured sponsorship from Hope Construction\u2014giving rise to the name Hope International.
Roddy Dowers, the club\u2019s enduring President and first team manager, highlighted the institution\u2019s growth and impact over the years. \u201cWhat makes me most proud is not the trophies, professional players, or tournament wins, but the fact that our entire Executive, including Head Coach Paul Farrell, came through our Youth Development Programme,\u201d Dowers said. \u201cHope International has become the envy of others. When you wear a Hope jersey, you are not just playing\u2014you\u2019re representing a legacy of excellence that everyone wants to challenge.\u201d
Also addressing the launch were Executive members Akin John and Kevin Hope. Special guests included Minister of Sports Orando Brewster, Shimano Bailey of the SVG Olympic Committee, SVG Football Federation President Otashie Spring, and East Kingstown Member of Parliament and former Hope International player Fitzgerald Bramble. The session was chaired by Kenson Stoddard.
The club looks forward to a series of celebratory events that honor its history, achievements, and the many individuals who have contributed to its success over the past 30 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hope International Football Club is marking its Pearl Anniversary, celebrating three decades of football excellence from 1995 to 2025. At a media launch held last Saturday, September 13, 2025, in the Conference Room of the National Sports Council, Arnos Vale, the club unveiled plans to commemorate the milestone. Cametha John, the club\u2019s Secretary, shared details<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mainstory"],"yoast_head":"\n