“Morie” has left his mark

Death is inevitable; however, its reality always brings with it moments of sadness, sympathy, reflections, and soul searching.

The same were all part of the process and unfolding, when news broke last Monday morning, July 17, 2023, that former St Vincent and the Grenadines football captain and national coach, Elliot “ Morie” Millington, had died in his adopted home, USA.

Immediately, reflections, tributes and expressions of sadness of his passing, were made via the most effective route currently, social media.

The outpouring of emotions and complimentary remarks, exemplify the impact that Millington has had on the sporting landscape of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Even before his death, Millington has always been touted as one of the best midfielders the country has produced.

For those who recalled his playing days, both at the club level and at the wider national scene, that Millington was a near complete footballer.

He possessed vision, was one of the better headers of the ball; a good passer, precise in his tackles, read the game, had a shot and most of all, was an excellent leader on and off the field.

From the early 1970’s Millington began to show his prowess as a footballer, when he made the first step up the rung as a member of the National Youth Team.

His progression was natural and meteoric, and he made the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Team in 1974, and rose to the captaincy in 1977.

But Millington’s leadership qualities and national spotlight came in 1979, as he led St Vincent and the Grenadines to second place behind Haiti, in the Caribbean Cup final held in Suriname.

Since, the 1979 team, has become the benchmark for St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football, as the performance of the small nation made the rest of the Caribbean, stand up and took notice.

Two years later in Puerto Rico, Millington was still at the helm when St Vincent and the Grenadines repeated the feat, this time, runner- up to Trinidad and Tobago.

More national acclamation came Millington’s way, when in 1992, he coached St Vincent and the Grenadines to the semi-final stage of the Concacaf zone of the World Cup qualifiers.

At that stage, St Vincent and the Grenadines had its first stint versus the likes of Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras.

Growing up in the Sion Hill community, Millington thus followed the footsteps of his elder brothers, representing Somerset in local football competitions.

The formation of the Sion Hill Sports Club in 1975, led to the merging of three football units, hence, Sion Hill’s journey as a national football force began.

As player and later coach, Millington guided Sion Hill to several national club titles, as well as participation in a regional club tournament.

Too, under Millington’s guidance, Sion Hill won a number of Inter-League titles.

In addition, Millington was the chief organiser of the Sion Hill Football League in the 1980s. His instrumentality positioned the league as only rivalled by national competition.

Undoubtedly, the Sion Hill community has been richer, as many benefits were accrued from the contribution made by Millington.

In the football sphere, he was an icon, the general, the mentor, a father figure, a brother, a counsellor, psychologist in his own right and an exemplary leader.

Many will attest that it was Millington who invested time, confidence and inspiration in them; traits that not only served those who had the privilege of his tutelage on the football field, but in the wider expanses of life.

As such, Millington never held back anyone who showed promise, they were not denied opportunities to exhibit their God- given talents.

Born a leader and inspirer, Millington, even during his latter years when his health produced some challenges all round, was able to draw on the attributes that defined him.

Hence, as he battled issues of kidney failure, Millington was still resilient yet buoyant, bubbly, and offering hope and comfort to those who would want to sympathise with him in his illness.

Therefore, “ Skip” , as he was also affectionately called, would have left a lasting impression on those whose lives he had touched directly and indirectly.

Indeed, Millington has assumed legendary status for his input to life in the Sion Hill community, Vincentian football, as a player, coach and administrator.

Thanks, Morie, the memories of your 68 years on this earth will live on.