The Foundation

The Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation is an organization which was created to honour Val Turton, and Carl Osborne, two great stalwarts of San Fernando football. The founders decided to honour them by reintroducing an annual intercol football match between Presentation and Naparima Colleges with the winner receiving the Val Turton/Carl Osborne trophy.

The Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation, in addition to organizing the annual football match, has three key goals as follows:

1) The awarding of a $5000 bursary each year to a deserving student from each college, Presentation and Naparima, to further his education.

2) Providing financial support for the football programs of Presentation and Naparima colleges.

3) Encouraging the development of female football in the southern region of Trinidad.

The annual football matches are held at the Manny Ramjohn Staduim in Marabella San Fernando which was built on the old Union Race Track. To date three matches have taken place. The Foundation tries to have the matches take place in September or October.

The monies for the bursaries are raised by paying supporters at the entry gates on the day of the match and by the corporate sponsors. For more information about the financial contributions and how you can help go to Breaking News on the News Page.

For profiles of Val Turton and Carl Osborne go to the Profiles Page.

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The History

The Genesis of the Turton/Osborne Project 
by Ken Davis

Early in the year 2000 Montreal, Canada, Irwin Frank, a footballer of the 1960’s, suggested to Theo Coqueran, Vic Hayes, Sugar Huggins, and Ken Davis, that it would be a good idea to honor the memory of our deceased friend Val Turton (Pinhead) by playing a football match  between the old members of Juniors football club and the present members.   In December of that year, this group formed itself into an ad hoc committee to explore the possibility of arranging such an event.  

While exploring ideas, Fred Thornhill suggested that a better way to honor the memory of Val might be to also honor another deceased friend and great footballer, Carl Osborne by re-creating the classic intercol match between Presentation and Naparima colleges, the alma mater for Val and Carl.  

Theo Coqueran, Irwin Frank and Ken Davis came to Trinidad in January 2001 to stimulate interest in the idea. Guy Ottley, Adrian Chandler, Roy Regis, Fred Thornhill, Oswald Joseph, Ed Turton and Dennis Turton thought that it was a marvelous idea.  The Val Turton-Carl Osborne Foundation was born.

The Canadian Committee decided to donate a trophy to be known as the Val Turton/Carl Osborne Memorial Trophy.

The idea was discussed with the Principals, Sports Masters of the two colleges and the wives of the deceased players who all agreed to support the staging of such an event. A local committee was formed to make the arrangements for the staging of the game.

The committee decided that the first match would be staged in September 2002 and that a bursary would be given to a worthy player from each of the teams. It was also decided that the Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation would be established to raise the necessary funds. Discussions were held with the Old Boy’ Associations of both schools and Juniors Sports Club.  They agreed to jointly manage the Foundation and the arrangements for subsequent matches.

A meeting was held with the Mayor in February, 2002. He has given the project his full support and has agreed to host a civic receptor for participants on September 25th, 2002. The mayor has also agreed to donate a trophy to go to the winner of an annual football match between two girls high school football teams.

The inaugural match between Naparima and Presentation to decide the winner of the Val Turton/Carl Osborne Memorial Trophy was played on Saturday September 28th, 2002 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium.

Some of the people involved in this project include:

In Trinidad – Adrian Chandler, President, Juniors Sports Club; Dennis Turton, Guy Ottley, Wayne Smith, Roy Lynch, Roy Jagroopsingh, Edmond Turton, Leslie Hoyte, Bob Paul, David Sammy, Ken Noble, Carlie Greer, Ed Turton, Oswald Joseph, "Peggy" Lynch, Norbert Yawching, Joel Edwards, Philis Phillip, Junior Yuille, Larry Solomon, Trevor Baptiste, Bertie Alves, Bing Dymally, Inskip Diaz , Fred Thornhill, Presentation and Naparima Old Boys Associations.

In Canada – Irwin Frank, Victor Hayes, Theo Coqueran,  Holly Ramdial, Gabie Mc Sween, Winston Cheeseman, Sylvan Bowles-Dove, Julian Marcelin, Peter Marcelin, Colin Benjamin, Vernon Eccles, Frankie Rampsaroop, Felix "Jap" Assoon, Joe Alexis, Terry Paris, Irwin  Belgrave, Ron Licorish, Billy Samuel, Leo Bertley, Errol Clement, Naparima Old Boys Association and Ken Davis.

In England – Terry Crawford, Trevor Crawford, Panks Crawford, Leslie Thorpe, Bucoo Muckram, Hollis Sherwood, Kenny Gibbs, and Kelvin "Pony" Caballo.

In the United States – Ravel Coqueran, Ghandi and Linda Dayal, Cleveland Osborne, Gerard Osborne, Gregory Rigsby, Carlton Joseph, Shirley Turton, Noreen Osborne, Winston Franco, Junior Barrow, Jim Granger, Ken Ross, Trevor Chandler, Selwyn Polonais, Ben Brown, Litus Coqueran, and the Presentation College Alumni.

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The Patron's Message

MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY DR. JEAN RAMJOHN-RICHARDS PATRON OF THE VAL TURTON/CARL OSBORNE FOUNDATION

I count it a privilege to be associated with the Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation. I think it noble that this group of San Fernandians, most of whom played football for Naparima and Presentation Colleges, would come together to honour the memory of two of their colleagues, by getting these two colleges to meet annually and by giving financial support to the institutions and the young footballers.

I knew Carl Osborne and saw Val Turton play. These two gentlemen contributed to football in their lives and continue to inspire support for the game even in their death.

The Foundation supports the development of football among high school boys and girls and includes a game between two high school girl's teams on its card. I encourage girls to get involved with the game and to this end I have donated a challenge trophy for this annual event. I hope that one day I will see Naparima Girls' and St. Joseph's Convent, San Fernando competing for the trophy.

I congratulate The Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation and wish it all success.

Jean Ramjohn-Richard

For a profile of the Her Excellency Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards go to the Profiles Page

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The Mayor's Message

MESSAGE FROM HIS WORSHIP MAYOR OF SAN FERNANDO ALDERMAN GERARD FERREIRA - 2002

As Mayor of the City of San Fernando, it is a privilege for me to be associated with the Turton-Osborne Foundation whose members are ensuring that the Yeoman's Service these outstanding men have given to their respective schools, Presentation and Naparima Colleges, and by extension to the City of San Fernando and our country, does not go unnoticed. It is my hope that the Turton-Osborne Foundation will provide benefits, especially for youths socially, financially and educationally. I wish to congratulate all those involved, especially the founders of the foundations, and I trust that all your expectations and hopes will be realized.

Best Wishes The Mayor Gerard Ferreira

MESSAGE FROM HIS WORSHIP MAYOR OF SAN FERNANDO ALDERMAN IAN ATHERLY - 2004

As Mayor of the city of San Fernando, it is indeed an honor to once again be associated with the Val Turton-Carl Osborne Foundation. This year will mark The Foundation’s 3rd annual double-header intercol classic. In addition to the customary match between Naparima College and Presentation College two girls’ high schools, namely Fyzabad Composite and Moruga Composite will compete. It is my hope that this Foundation will continue to provide the students from Naparima and Presentation colleges, with the opportunity to further their academic studies, by the offering of the Val Turton-Carl Osborne bursaries.

Best of luck and I trust that all your expectations and hopes will be realized.
The Mayor Ian Atherly

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The Sponsors

The matches are sponsored by Petrotrin, Unit Trust Corporation, Industrial Gases Limited, Advance Dynamics, Gayelle The Channel, Trinidad and Tobago Television, Power 102 FM, I 95.5 FM, Naparima Old Boys' Association, the Turton Family, the Osborne Family, and people like you.

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The Founding Members

The founding members of the Val Turton/Carl Osborne Foundation are: Irvin Frank, Theo Cogurean, Victor Hayes, Ken Davis, and Fred Thornhill.

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