Waterhouse striker Kevin Lamey (second left) accepts a citation from Bruce Bicknell (third right), chairman of Waterhouse FC, as Carlene Edwards (left), public relations officer of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), club president Ricky Chin (right) and Maxine Simpson, mother of Olympic and World champion sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser, look on. The presentation took place during the half-time break of Sunday's Digicel Premier League match between St Georges Sports Club and Waterhouse, which ended 0-0. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
Kevin André Lamey, affectionately called 'The King' by his team's die-hard fans, was honoured by Waterhouse Football Club (WFC) for 14 unbroken years of service, at halftime during Sunday's Digicel Premier League match at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium in Drewsland, St Andrew.
The club is also celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Lamey was given a citation, read by Carlene Edwards, public relations officer of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA).
Olympic and World champion sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser, who also hails from the Waterhouse community, accepted on behalf of Lamey's mother a framed, enlarged photo in acknowledgement of Lamey's dedicated service to the club.
Geoffrey Maxwell, the team's coach, said: "Lamey has served the club very well and to actually come and play for a club for 14 years is outstanding. He has been the club's leading scorer for many years, he is a model player; he is a quiet person.
"I know him for a while, he is like a son to me and I still think he has one or two seasons left in him and overall we can congratulate him in Waterhouse's 30th anniversary."
A matter of loyalty
Ricky Chin, the club's president, remarked: "He has been dedicated and I don't know if you have anybody in any other premier league club who has given 14 years of unbroken service."
He added: "That says a lot for the person and that's the reason the club decided to honour him this evening.
"I think it is a matter of loyalty. He came here and with the love that was shown to him, he has reciprocated by giving back the love. He has passed through a lot of coaches and has consistently been the top goalscorer for the team," Chin continued. "He is in his mid-30s and is the leading scorer this year for the club with eight goals."
Maxwell discovered Lamey playing for a lower-division team called Leeds and held on to him. The 'king' of Waterhouse football has never looked back.
Lamey has scored over 150 goals for Waterhouse, helping the club to win two premier league titles, two all-island knock-out crowns, a number of End-of-Round finals, and the KSAFA Major League.
Lamey was given his first call-up for national duties in 1997 under Brazilian coach, Rene Simoes, but he has been in and out of the national set-up since.