Digicel Team Feature - Othniel 'Dolphy' Gordon
45 Years of Work Burning in the Fields
For 45 years and counting, Othniel 'Dolphy' Gordon has been taking care of, arguably, the most storied and the most beautiful high school grounds in Jamaica. He is as blue as any of the True Blue men that were privileged to walk the hallowed halls of Jamaica College.
Although he is officially 'retired', Dolphy continues to serve the institution where he has spent his entire working life
The following is a transcript of the embedded Team Feature video produced by Digicel, the ISSA Manning Cup Sponsor.
Othniel 'Dolphy' Gordon in his own words.
Narrator
[00:00:07] Othniel Gordon is the equipment manager for all the sports teams at Jamaica College. This was not always the case.
OG
[00:00:17] My full name is Mr. Othniel Nathaniel Gordon. I have been working here from 1973. So, I'm now 45 years [and] ten months When I came here in 1973, I was employed as a sanitation person. I would do the bathrooms, manholes, drains and all those things. After a few months, they saw that the work too easy for me. And being a young man coming here at the age 19, they figure more or less that I should be doing more. So, I would referee matches, class matches…Yeah. I would assist a referee if he comes here and don’t have a linesman.
Narrator
[00:01:06] The love for job isn't the only thing that drives him to show up every day. So, what does he consider the most motivating part of his job?
OG
[00:01:13] To be amongst the children – you know. Some of them are rude (you know) and some of them are indiscipline (you know) …but you have to work around them. You understand!
Narrator
[00:01:24] It doesn't matter what sport it is. He's well equipped to take on the challenge.
OG
[00:01:30] I do the cricket pitch as well! If I am going to prepare a pitch, I make sure [to] wet it from the night before. So, come tomorrow morning I come here as early as I can. I put on my [plastic] and began to roll. If I have the football field to mark, I make sure to come in the morning early, put set my cords, (line up my cords) – because the night before, I put in my dots [to mark] where I am going to put the pegs.
Narrator
[00:01:51] Over the years Mr Gordon's role with the football team has evolved making him an integral part of the five-time Manning Cup defending champions team.
OG
[00:02:02] In earlier days, I wasn’t acquainted with the football team - that much. I would go to matches and support them – yes! I carried all kinds of equipment. When Mr. Henry came now (we were acquainted for a long time) so when he came up as the football coach – I decided to assist him. Mr. Coley came now [and] I became the full equipment management now – you know!
Fervet!