Caribbean Stars History
Caribbean Stars” has enjoyed great success over the years and has grown and will continue to grow due to our commitment to provide positive contributions to not only the Caribbean Community, but all communities.
In 1975 West Indians in Toronto wanted to play soccer for more than just fun and exercise, they wanted to compete so a recreational League was created – Street
Guys Soccer League. Initially there were six teams Exhibitors, Glamour Boys, Players, Tempo, Wandos and York.
In the beginning games were played at Oakwood Collegiate, then moved to Bathurst Heights Secondary School and later to Flemingdon Park where the Street Guys League stayed for the following 18 years. One of the aims of the organizers of the SGSL was to bring together people with a common heritage and sporting
interest, which then turned into rivalries in a friendly and festive atmosphere.
In 1982 the Leagues name was changed by Administrator Aldwyn McGill to Toronto Caribbean Soccer League (T.C.S.L.). The new name created a positive image, recognizable identity and commanded respect within the soccer community and at inter-League All Stars Competitions
With the identity transformation the League felt it was time to make this more than just an activity for the boys, but an opportunity to bring families and the community closer. As a result an Open Knock Out Tournament and Caribbean Inter-League Champion of Champions game was developed to attract outside teams and leagues, and the organizing of a Family Day.
The Sports and Family Day objective was to remove the serious soccer focus for a day and allow teams to showcase their abilities at other activities. It also allowed the children, mothers and non-soccer fathers to socialize while participating in track and obstacle races, fete matches (soccer games with numerous refreshment breaks), while at the same time being entertained by Drummers, Steel Pan, and DJ music.
The future looked bright, so much that the Leagues Caribbean (All) Stars were invited to represent Trinidad & Tobago in a local World Cup Tournament, but alas, it was not to be T.C.S.L. ceased operation in the summer of 1993.
All was not lost though, in 1995 the Caribbean Stars Soccer Club, (C.S.S.C.) was formed by Aldwyn McGill (T.C.S.L.) and Noel Denny (Malvern Friendship League) to play in the Canadian International Soccer League (C.I.S.L.) better known as the Puma League. They were able to attract an elite group of players as a result and in their inaugural season the Club played the opening exhibition games for the Caribana Cup International Tournament.
The Caribana Cup comprised of the national men soccer teams from Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Canada.
Caribbean Stars later withdrew from the then merged C.I.S.L. and Canadian National Soccer League and as a result began traveling locally and internationally.
Under the C.S.S.C. banner Caribbean Stars Community Promotions (C.S.C.P.) was created.
C.S.C.P. is a promotional team, which helps organizations and individuals promote and advertise special events.
The group was partially responsible for promoting the international soccer game between Portmore United (Jamaica) and Metro Lions (Toronto) in September 2004. The game was played before a close to sold out crowd with proceeds given to the Jamaican Consulate to assist in the Hurricane Ivan Relief Fund.
Caribbean Stars was one of the top teams in the CISL but it had no help from the business community and without a legitimate soccer news media in the community Aldwyn saw an avenue where he could used his expertise and experience in soccer to promote the sport via a magazine publication.
He learned that having the right personal in relation to operational efficiency is what makes an organizations successful and sort the advice of family members like his sister Yvonne and brother Victor in concert with close friends such as Dixon Modeste, Ken Mollineau and Saliym Val Sebro about his intentions for a publication
Aldwyn registered Caribbean Stars Inc. as a result of their positive feedback and the caribbeanstars website was launched in 2005 after he took a retirement package from Bell Canada in December 2004.
“I knew very early that we do not have control over longevity but that we still had to plan for the things we wanted to accomplish in life. Watching how things unfolded, I can honestly say that being associated with Caribbean Stars has been one of the most gratifying decision and experience of my football/soccer career
“Besides my playing successes and good health God had presented me with the opportunity to be part of the Trinidad and Tobago media team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I was already a freelance journalist, with the Caribbean Camera Newspaper in Toronto and covered the Soca Warriors playoff series against Bahrain for the community in Toronto.
It was an exciting moment in my career and somewhat of an unbelievable experience when you take into account that I was selected to the Trinidad squad to undergo training for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany before I migrated to Canada in ’72 and eventually got the opportunity to watch a world cup while covering Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors at the country’s first ever world cup appearance”.
Stars Soccer Review Magazine volume one was created from the highlights of the FIFA World Cup in Germany and the anticipation of Toronto FC playing its inaugural MLS season that was coinciding with David Beckham arrival in the MLS after signing with LA Galaxy.
Since Volume One our SSR Magazine has covered FIFA World Cups at all levels including the last two FIFA World Cups that were hosted in South Africa and Brazil
~ Aldwyn McGill
