Arnett Gardens F.C.
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| Full name | Arnett Gardens Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Junglists[1] | ||
| Founded | 1977 | ||
| Ground | Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex Kingston, Jamaica | ||
| Capacity | 7,000 | ||
| President |  Chris Bicknell | ||
| Chairman | Mark Golding | ||
| Manager | Xavier Gilbert | ||
| League | Jamaica Premier League | ||
| 2023–24 | Regular season: 5th Playoffs: Third place | ||
| Website | https://arnettgardensfc.org | ||
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The Arnett Gardens Football Club is a Jamaican professional football club based in Kingston, which currently plays in the Jamaica Premier League.
The team is based in the Arnett Gardens community of South Saint Andrew, Jamaica, and plays in the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
History
[edit]The team came out of a merger between the All Saints and Jones Town Football teams in 1977. Arnett's fans originate primarily from Arnett Gardens and its adjoining communities – Jones Town, Craig Town, Hannah Town & Admiral Town. The Junglists, as their fans are known, are very passionate and vociferous about their team and will travel all over the country in support of the team. The Arnett Gardens part of Kingston is popularly known as the Concrete Jungle, hence the nickname of the club.
The club won the league in its first season, 1978. Although it suffered a long drought after that, it re-emerged at the start of the new millennium, winning both the 2000–01 and 2001–02 championships.
Recent seasons and managerial changes
[edit]The start of the 2007–08 season proved to be one of their worst ever and forced coach Max Straw to resign on 14 January 2008 to be replaced by former coach Jerome Waite,[2] who led Arnett Gardens to the celebrated back-to-back titles of 2001 and 2002. They then finished the season four points above the relegation zone after winning 3 of their final 4 games.
Waite himself was axed after only four games into the 2008–09 season, losing all games and managing to score only one goal. He was replaced by Fabian Davis,[3] who left his post at the end of 2009.[4] As of January 2010, Wayne Fairclough was the team's coach[1] but he decided to quit in October 2010.[5] Fairclough was succeeded by former national team striker Paul Davis.[6]
Davis took them to a creditable 5th place in the 2012–13 season, his third with the club, before he resigned in November 2012 citing a lack of commitment from the players and other issues within the club.[7] In October 2013, his successor Calvin Lewis resigned[8] and his place was taken by former coach Jerome Waite.
Alex Thomas took over the reins for the 2019–20 season. On October 22, 2021, he had resigned from his position as head coach.[9]
On October 26, 2021, Paul Davis was announced as the newly appointed head coach.[10]
Xavier Gilbert was appointed as the new head coach on August 21, 2023.[11] On August 5, Arnett Gardens F.C. won their first ever international cup, the CFU Club Shield, by defeating Grenades F.C. at the Stadion Rignaal 'Jean' Francisca, Willemstad.
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 23 August 2024 [12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract
[edit]Achievements
[edit]Domestic
[edit]- Jamaica Premier League
- JFF Champions Cup
- Runners-up: 1995–96
- KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout Competition
- Champions (7): 1989–90, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2011–12, 2015–16
- Runners-up (2): 2002–03, 2010–11[13]
International
[edit]- CFU Club Shield
- Champions (1): 2024
- Caribbean Club Championship
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Lowe, André (11 May 2010). "Inspired Arnett fight hard to stave off Lion". The Gleaner. Jamaica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Max Straw quits struggling Arnett Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine – Jamaica Observer
- ^ Arnett coach quits after string of poor DPL results – Jamaica Observer
- ^ Shake-up at Arnett Gardens – Jamaica Gleaner
- ^ Fairclough throws in towel at Arnett – Jamaica Observer
- ^ 'Tegat' heads for the 'Jungle' – Jamaica Observer
- ^ 'Tegat' quits as Arnett Gardens coach – Jamaica Observer
- ^ Calvin Lewis quits Arnett Gardens – Jamaica Observer
- ^ "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Arnett trusts Davis to continue youth thrust". jamaica-gleaner.com. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Arnett Gardens look to Gilbert for better". jamaica-star.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Arnett Gardens FC – Jamaica Premier League". 20 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Jamaica – List of Cup Winners". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 16 December 2023.