Olivia Grange, Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, has expressed her deep sadness at the sudden death of former national footballer, Bancroft Gordon, who had been visiting the island from the United States. He was 66.

Reports indicate that the Excelsior High School alum died suddenly on Tuesday night, 48 hours after attending an event in Porus, Manchester.

“So sad that Bancroft, who was one of the guests at the Porus Football Festival in Manchester on Sunday and actually played in the exhibition football match, died two days later,” Minister Grange said.

During the early 1970s, ‘Banky’ as he was affectionately known, represented Excelsior High School in several sports including basketball, hockey, cricket, and track and field. Later in life, he developed a passion for golf. His talents in academics and athletics won him a football scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC where he thrived both on and off the field as an All-American in football and Phi Beta honours in academics.

After graduation with a degree in Economics and with the dissolution of the North American Soccer League, Bancroft would gain admission to Harvard University Law School and went on to have a successful career during which time he was also a mentor to several Jamaican student-athletes.

“He was so talented that he represented his alma mater, Excelsior High School, in five sports before settling on football as his final focus and went to represent Jamaica from 1976-79. He also played professional soccer in the US for two years,” Minister Grange said.

“Bancroft also distinguished himself as a lawyer and was employed by the Fortune 500 corporation, Marriott International Inc. as its vice president, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary and was also a board member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

“What has proved to be his last visit to his homeland along with his continued assistance to the national team as well as to various club teams, showed that his love for football in Jamaica remained strong to the end. 

“My condolences to Bancroft’s family members, associates and to the football fraternity.”