Sport at Tamba- Tamba: Football- The PROTT League/ FA Cup

Association Football was introduced to Tamba- Tamba by British sailors in the last decade of the 19th century.

Clifton Gates, a great believer in the salutary qualities of organised sport, founded The Football Club of Tamba- Tamba in 1910. The club, like its cricket counterpart, had the reputation of being somewhat nepotistic and exclusive. In 1911 the townsmen of Palmerston issued a formal challenge to The Football Club, and the island's second team, Albion, came into being.
The Football Club remained the dominant team, and unsurprisingly it was they who played in the islands first representative match in 1914, when Exeter City visited Tamba- Tamba on their way home from South America. Exeter City won 4-1.
Portsmouth FC visited later in the year for reasons that are shrouded in mystery. They played both The Football Club ( Portsmouth won 3-1) and Albion. Albion beat the visitors by 3 goals to 2 in an extraordinary match. Albion members then formed Pompey in lasting tribute to their guests.
Given the small population, it is not surprising that the quality of Tamba- Tamba football was not high, with young lads and older players often making up the numbers.

One notable exception was  George Berry (1903- 1970). Growing up in Palmerston and playing his football with Albion, young George later moved to England and played a handful of matches for Millwall before moving to Aldershot Town. Ever restless, he later found himself in Chile where he played for Santiago Wanderers. The Chileans were keen to take him to the 1930 World Cup, but he declined the offer of citizenship. He later moved to Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. On his return to Tamba- Tamba he played on into his late 40's and then coached FC Tamba- Tamba for many years.
After the Revolution the game advanced in leaps and bounds under the watchful eye of the Peoples Council for Sport and Recreation.

FC Tamba- Tamba

Known as 'The Big Side', founded in 1910, historically the richest and  most successful club on the island. Enjoyed the patronage of the Kakoys. In recent years has attracted attention through its signing of the Brazilian professionals Edison dos Santos and Julianinho. 

International

Founded in 1967 when increasing numbers of overseas workers were arriving in Tamba- Tamba , Inter replaced the traditional whipping boys , Plantation FC.  Players registered to the club had to have been born outside Tamba- Tamba. This rule no longer applies.

Albion

The second club, founded 1911- 'the club of the poor'. Traditionally the most fanatically supported club. Famously defeated Portsmouth in 1914.

Pompey

Pompey's origins are unique in the world of football in that they were founded as a 'guest' team whose role any visitors to Tamba- Tamba  would be asked to fulfil. Originally a 'second string' to Albion who played them in practice matches, the first actual team to assume the 'role' of Pompey were the crew of HMS Neptune in 1918. They became a 'proper' club in 1936 to compete in the FA Cup.

The Workers

Founded 1980 to replace Corinthians, a club which had been formed by George Wilmslow Kakoy in 1933.

The PROTT league was instituted in 1980.Prior to this the matches had been played on a friendly or challenge basis, with the exception of the FA Cup. Each year four clubs would play a knock out tournament of two legs with the overall winners meeting the last seasons winners in the FA Cup final. The first FA Cup took place in 1935.

Since 1981 the FA Cup has been contested by the two teams finishing top of the league. The final is held on the first Saturday following May 15th.

A campaign to win the recognition of FIFA is ongoing. Both Herr Josef Blatter and Mr Jack Warner have attended matches at The May 15th Stadium. During the Pre- Revolutionary era FC Tamba-Tamba were the national team by default, playing matches against Cape Verde (several matches), New York Cosmos (1975), Botofago (Brazil -1964) Chelsea (England-1968) and Zaire (1974).

Since 1980 the national team has been truly representative, although fixtures have been limited (2 per year on average). The latest foreign team to visit Tamba Tamba was FC Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

PROTT (National Side)