Aunty Sue-Ann’s undying passion for Cornwall College

"I want to be buried in a red-and-gold casket in my uniform. The ashes must throw on one side of the Cornwall College playing field. Mi spirit must always be there," said long-time school patriot Sue-Ann Chang, noting where she wants part of her remains placed after being cremated.

Perceived as an aunt or mother to the students, Chang, also known as 'Aunty Sue-Ann', has been a Cornwall supporter for 33 years.

The Montego Bay, St James resident can be seen at every Cornwall game decked out in her custom-made attire and tools. These include a red-and-gold jersey, shoes and two dutchie pot covers with the crest and colours engraved.

Adding flavour, she wears a custom-made football-shaped hat with Cornwall flag and colours attached. Her presence can be felt from a distance, by the sound of pot covers banging. And she has the loudest and proudest voice.

"Mi can't explain it to you, but mi love Cornwall. Win, lose or draw, Cornwall College to di world. Cornwall a mi everything, and the red and gold inna mi blood," Chang declared. "I have a tattoo with a ball and the Cornwall crest for over six years now. I love the children there because they make me feel like a mother. Whether they are winning or not, they are my biggest motivation. They are everything to me.

Continuing, she said: "Mi funeral is planned and is in writing to the principal and chairman that it should be a red-and-gold funeral at the chapel. It has to be an invitation-only [service] and you have to be a 'Cornwallian' or close friend to attend. I must be in my uniform and my family must be in red and gold."

Chang said the first official match she attended was at Manning's School in Westmoreland. This, as she reminisced on when she began to support the school.

"At the time when I went there in 1991, two old boys, Gilpin and Becky, went to Manning's match. Mi dress inna me uniform, my khaki pants and white shirt with tie and cap. Mr Lettman, I can't forget him, always dress me up in those outfits. Mi used to look like them little tomboy, so when I go out with them, people say, 'Mi never know seh girl go Cornwall.' That is how much I love the school.

"The only thing that makes my blood pressure go down is sitting under an ackee tree at the school. It is a joy to be around the boys under the tree. No matter how much pill doctor give me, that is where I go to ease the pressure," she added.

A past student of St James High School, formerly known as Senior School, Chang's deep passion and love for Cornwall draws the ire of some past students from her school.

"Someone up there don't like me, because they claim that me go to the school and a support another. Mi a cheer for Cornwall long before Senior School had a daCosta Cup team. I am not going to switch because of that. My sister's boyfriend at the time introduced us to the Cornwall and from that day I never left," Chang explained.

Embracing the 'mother' role with great pride, Chang said she has had some good and bad moments during her years of supporting.

"Mi biggest moment of my life is their winning the last daCosta Cup title in 2016 while playing the mother role. I also used to wash the jerseys for years, free, but they started to pay. Last season, I missed preseason and mi tek down sick bad. It bothered me so much that I ended up in hospital. Mi asthma tek mi and doctor said it was because of that," she said emotionally.

SUPPORT

The diehard supporter was also a vendor at the school. Adored by students and old boys, she is always gifted with memorabilia to cement her place as one of them.

"A lot of people think I was the first female to attend Cornwall College. Mi have mi tie, pin, custom-made dress, jersey, shoes, etc. I was the only vendor they allowed on the school to sell. When mi a run my shop, the pickney them support me. Mi sure a mi dinner money. The pickney dem love me. Both teachers and students supportive," Chang said.

"The old boys look out fi mi. Mi nuh in need of anything when it come on to them, they make me okay. I have a school ring that Dr Weatherly's (Dean) brother, an old boy, bought me for my birthday. A youth who played for Cornwall, when him a lef he said, 'Aunty Sue-Ann, this prefect pin is for you.'

According to Chang, her children and last grandson are all big supporters of Cornwall and were all brought up in the culture.

As for arch-rivals, Chang said Rusea's High School and Munro College are viewed as their biggest rivals.

"When we play Rusea's, all type of tension hold me. I want to pee pee; mi get anxious and excited. I look forward to playing them. Munro as well, when we play them, I want my side to win. Even though my side never win this year, it was a young team and I still support them."

ashley.anguin

@gleanerjm.com