Allan "Skill" Cole

Just heard on Andre Stephens show that Skill has passed on. Feel so privileged to have seen him play as a schoolboy for VTHS, for Boys Town and Jamaica. Best Jamaican footballer ever in my humble opinion.

RIP Great One
One of the last interviews he did he said he was writing a book. I wonder if he completed the book.
Victory tonight would be a good send off gift for Skill.

In reply to CWW

Yes. It is confirmed...The great Allan Skill Cole is gone. One of the most
iconic figures in the history of Jamaica's football has gone to greater glory.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Condolences to the family and the football fraternity as friends and others
such as his Clubs, Santos and Boys' Town ,Kingston College and Vere Technical High School
where his deeds on the football field can never be matched and where
he sat at his desk and signed a Professional contract to play in the then
North American Soccer League in the early 60s.
A win tonight at the CONCACOF game with Trinidad and Tobago would be
a most appropriate feat and send off for sure.

Skill Cole was a Winner and will always be remembered as such even in Brazil where he played as a Professional.

In reply to hubert

We won. 2 nil

In reply to michaelmax

Lovely. Real nice.

RIP. Real balla

Also congrats to Jamaica on the win today.

You’re practically qualified for the World Cup.

Enjoy your time in Trumpland

In reply to CWW

In reply to hubert

RIP to a legend…

In reply to imusic

Its still a long way to go bro

Walk Good Skill You contributed much to "Yuh baawn lan'" Condolences to his loved ones.

RIP

In reply to CWW
Real sad

I thought 'Skill' was much older - his son also died recently!

RIP!

Life is short, here today, gone tomorrow!

In reply to XDFIX

Thought he was older as well…

Ali Cole was his late son who played for Manning Cup football for Excelsior

In reply to FanAttick
Ali died of a massive heart attack attach at 46

I still remember the first time I saw Skill on a football field. It was in 1965 when I saw Vere play Camperdown in a friendly game. Vere won 8-0. Skill and the late Les Brown were running rings around Camperdown that evening.

The one international player I would compare Skill's style of play to, is ex Colombian player Valderama. Like Valderama Skill was a great passer,with good field vision but the one difference is that Skill often played up front and was not shy of scoring.

Was fortunate to be in the stadium the night he "balled" Nautico of Brazil. The Brazilians started to play him rough and when he retaliated if memory serves me right he was red carded, and the fans started throwing bottles on the field. Order was restored and Skill was allowed to continue playing; don't think the spectators would have allowed the game to continue if he had not been reinstated. I think Ken Chaplain was the referee. It was based on this performance that he got his contract with Nautico

In reply to hubert Wow. Nostalgia through clouded lens. Nosgtalgia for the soft delicate touches and passes. The desire and preference for Brazilian style football, honed under Penna.
Re-visit the House of Dread KASAFA Major League with Gutto Thompson another national player. One game sticks in the memory. Cavaliers 4 House of Dread 0. As one disappointed fan was heard to say "Allan we no want the wizardry , just play ' . Neville Oxford was running Allan and company ragged.
Another major failure Jamaica Invitational XI vs World Cup bound Uruguay at the National Stadium. Skill(s) cant be found.

And do not forget the red card, warned off the..................
And like many others I too watched JBC tv who televised a lot of schoolboy football.

That aside may he RIP.

In reply to alfa1975


I remember Leonard "Chicken" Mason starred for JA in that game vs Uruguay's 74 World Cup team.

The day before I migrated 5/19/74 JA had a game with an English team Chelsea? (dont remember). They said Skill was not fit and would have a fitness test before the game. Instead of saying he was not fit to play I believe this was a ploy to get fans to the game believing there was a chance Skill would play. I turned up to the game with that expectation but he was declared not fit enough to play. Ala Gayle "{A who de people dem come fi see". Skill of course.

Re: Nostalgia through clouded lens, won't attempt to speak for Maas Hubie but at this time with these postings I am only concerned amout performance on the field; bearing in mind many here did no see the man in the flesh so with my years on this earth I don't mind passing on history based on what I witnessed, not what I read in a newspaper or magazine.

RIP. Cherry Cole.!

Skill's son Alli died in 2017. He had captained the the champion 1989 Excelsior Manning Cup team.

Shem, (son of David) Skill's grandson who also played Manning Cup football for Excelsior, also died tragically about 3 years ago.

Coincidentally, all three died around the same time of year

In reply to CWW


Are you certain of that?

I don't recall Chicken playing in that game against Uruguay. I think he was still in Chicago at the time.
[You are correct; I checked the lineup an Chicken not only play in the game, he actually started. I stand corrected]

If there was a " star" for Jamaica in that game, as I recal,, it was Dago Gordon who came on as a second half substitute and thrilled with his usual gallery ball.

In reply to alfa1975



If it's same game at the stadium, I think it was Cavalier 4 House of Dread 1 with House of Dread scoring first on a corner taken by Skill. After House of Dread had scored, a dread from thec bench ( I think it was Bonny Riley) got up and proceeded to do a lap of honour. By the time he was merely a quarter way ( behind the southern goal) Cavalier equalized and he just quietly slinked back to the bench, amid much laughter from the crowd!!