Micky 'Fairy Boots' Murdoch, KC's quintessentially gifted  football genius of late 1940's to the early 1950's, recalls some moments, humorous and serious, during his sojourn at the "Kollege" in what Senator Johnson dubbed as the school's "Golden Era." It was an era in which he played  football and cricket with the likes of Collie Smith, Easton McMorris, "Buddy" and Raymond Alexander, Lawson Douglas, Freddie Green, Barrington Watson, Dennis Lalor, George Thompson, Jerome Walters, Melvin Watson, Keith Reece, Neville Bolton, Huntley Neita, "Tootie" McClarty, "Buddy Josephs," D. P. Beckford, Roy Mclean and "Bouser' Hines. Currenlty chairman of the recently revived Sports Council, Micky now shares with us what he fondly recalls as "a wonderful experience."

Micky Murdoch

I can remember when in the 1950 Manning Cup against Wolmers played at Sabina Park and attacking the northern goal, Jerome Walters (uncle of current National U19 coach, Jackie Walters) playing at outside right found the ball drifting away from and going into touch by no more than a foot,. But Jerome continued and brought the ball back into play. KC at that time was trailing by a goal. That play allowed Jerome to equalize. Immediately the referee signaled to the middle awarding a goal. But Jerome , that supreme sportsman, went to the referee and indicated that the ball had gone out of touch. He then withdrew his decision .Needless to say, Kingston College won the game 2-1, one of which was scored by my late great friend Jerome Walters . Better than that, you can just imagine the lengthy sermon we all received from Bishop Gibson in Chapel the next morning. Jerome became a hero from then on.

I can remember when in December 1952, Lawson Douglas , our wicket keeper was due to leave school and I was due to take over from him. My very good friend Leonard "Tootie" Mclarty came to me with the suggestion that he want to make the Sunlight team as the wicket keeper and requested that I not take on the job behind the stumps. "Tootie" subsequently kept the wicket and proved to be a worthy keeper even stumping down the leg side off the quicker bowlers and also proved to be a dependable middle order batsman.

I remember when I went to KC in January 1947, Barry Watson , the world acclaimed artist was the goalkeeper. By 1949, he was the center forward. He had left the goal to Lawson Douglas and rumour had it that in a friendly match the season before a certain Jamaican discouraged Barry when he hit him in the chest with a thunderous shot to goal. It is said that Barry vowed never to keep the goal again. .He then played at center forward for the victorious 1949 Manning Cup team and the All Schools team and he subsequently became an outstanding Jamaican goal scorer at center forward.

I can remember when in 1948 or 1949 KC had a Sunlight cricket match against Wolmers at Wolmers. The last over was to be bowled by Wolmers' Louis Jones , the terror of school boy fast bowling at the time. KC needed four runs to win with two wickets to fall. Louis got the 9 th wicket with the second or third ball of the over. It was Collie Smith's first match and the toddler walked to the wicket in short pants with pads almost under his throat. KC needed four runs to win. Only one more ball was bowled in the match. Collie proceeded to square that one ball for four and calmly walked away from the wicket.

I can remember when Collie Smith batted for a whole week during lunch time "catchi shubby" at school. From Monday to Friday all the bowlers toiled to no avail. Sensing frustration was setting in, Collie gave away his wicket just as the lunch bell rang.

I can remember when five of us took on the whole school in a football scrimmage at lunch time. We had possession for 85% of the time. The five us were Barry Watson and his brother Leighton , Freddy Green, Almando Gibson and one called "the fairy boots."

Micky Murdoch

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