The Red, White & Black Diaries
The Red, White & Black Diaries is a behind-the-scenes journey into the heart of Trinidad and Tobago football — told from inside the camp, on the road, and through the voices of those living it.
It’s not just about the matches, but the moments in between — the long bus rides, the laughter in hotel lobbies, the quiet focus before kickoff, and the pride that comes with wearing the national colours.
A Day in the Life: The Return to England
Saturday, May 24th — Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team
It’s been a long time since Trinidad and Tobago footballers unpacked their bags for a proper camp in England. The last time was way back in 2006 — a friendly against Iceland at Loftus Road, then that famous pre-World Cup camp at Carden Park, with Dwight Yorke wearing the captain’s armband.
Now, nearly twenty years later, Yorke was back not as captain, but as head coach and this time he had a new generation walking behind him.
Touchdown at Gatwick
The team’s flight from Port of Spain touched down early that Saturday morning. The boys looked sharp but tired, led by Kevin Molino, who naturally took charge of the group. Bags in hand, they followed signs, escalators, and airport staff trying to point them in the right direction.
But the team bus? Nowhere in sight. For a few minutes, it was calls being made, WhatsApp messages flying. Eventually, a friendly steward came over and said, “You’re on the wrong level, lads.”
A few minutes later, the group was greeted by Shelly, the bus driver — an older English lady with a big laugh and even bigger personality. Shelly, however, didn’t want to pull into the Marriott driveway, preferring to stop on the side of the main street, joking that she might need a tape measure to see if the entrance was wide enough. Forty-five minutes later, after a drive through quiet English suburbs, the team pulled up at the hotel.
Arrival time: 11:00 a.m.
Check-in time: 3:00 p.m.
You could imagine Dwight Yorke’s face. Years of European football had made him precise about timing. But before it could turn into a problem, Sterlin, a ‘Trini’ and our team liaison who sings soca as a side gig and remembered helping out when T&T visited for the Iceland game in 2006 — stepped in. Andy Howes, the Unity Cup organizer, had incidentally organized the Iceland game as well. Within minutes, room keys were sorted, and Yorke finally relaxed.
Settling In
This trip felt different from the start. For the first time outside of the Saudi Arabia trip in December , it was a proper football setting with Yorke at the helm — good pitches, cool weather, proper recovery setups, and players who were visibly excited to be part of something structured.
Wherever Yorke went — the hotel lobby or restaurant, the training pitch, or Brentford’s GTech stadium — people recognized him. Hotel staff, security guards, journalists — they all knew “Dwight Yorke.” And that mattered. His presence automatically lifted the profile of the group. You could feel it in how the staff treated the team, in how the players walked a little taller.
New Faces, Familiar Names
One of the first new faces to show up in this camp was Rio Cardines — soft-spoken, polite, came with his dad. You could see the nerves; he didn’t know anyone besides the press officer. But Daniel Phillips, who was already comfortable in England from his time at Stevenage, where Rio grew up, quickly made him feel at home. It was a small gesture, but it showed what this camp was about — connection.
Then came the familiar ones.
Marvin Andrews and Kelvin Jack showed up for the Jamaica match — both of them walking reminders of 2006. Chris Birchall dropped by too, smiling like no time had passed. Carlos Edwards made a quick check-in and Andre Boucaud passed through the hotel. There was a real sense of continuity — like the past and present were shaking hands again, especially when Jack and Andrews posed for photos with Yorke, Russell Latapy, Derek King and Ross Russell at the training ground. All six had played together at some time for the national team.
The Training Ground Vibe
Conditions were spot-on. Cool weather, perfect grass, good hotel food. Training had structure and purpose. The players were sharp, and there was banter — the kind that makes a group feel like a team.
The journey to the training pitch on the first days was always a bit challenging. Bus drivers don’t always know where they were going, relying on Google Maps or constant phone updates from the tour organizer. Sometimes even the liaison gets it wrong — one journey on this particular stay, went 22 minutes longer due to a wrong turn. Yorke, being familiar with the areas, constantly expressed himself and never eased up on the driver.
We trained at the ground of Hanwell Town FC, a small club but with decent enough conditions, proper surface. The club secretary and ground staff made us feel welcome — English snacks, tea, and all smiles. They were thrilled to have Yorke and the T&T squad in their home. During one training session, a Jamaica-born player agent stopped by to meet a couple of his past players, including Joevin Jones, and inquired quietly about new prospects.
On one of the days a friend of Derek King found the hotel and dropped off well-made doubles and roti, always appreciated when we were far from home. Marvin and Kelvin, with Kelvin’s two sons, indulged. Leo from Scotland also checked in on the lime, along with Harande Elie, who captured some footage for a documentary he was working on.
The English media turned up as word spread that Yorke was coaching his national team again. You could see the curiosity — cameras out, trying to get a quote, a glimpse, a photo. Yorke handled it like the old pro he is, blending seriousness with that easy smile that once lit up Old Trafford. But he also held his ground. On the first media day at Gtech Stadium, with the head coaches of all four nations scheduled to speak at separate times, the press team tried to get Yorke to shift his time after we had already arrived at the venue. Yorke was not having it.
He said, “You asked us to come for this time. We’ve got a schedule to keep, so let’s make sure everything runs organized.”
Game Days: Jamaica and Ghana
The Jamaica game came first — and you could tell it meant something. The rivalry doesn’t fade with distance. The stands had flags, drums, and that unmistakable Caribbean energy.
Trinidad and Tobago showed real fight. Down 0–2, Isaiah Leacock scored to pull one back, and Kevin Molino tied it up 2–2. The fans loved it. In the end, Jamaica scored a last-minute penalty to win, but the effort and grit were unmistakable.
“We showed heart tonight. Coming from two goals down took character, but at this level, is the small details that make the difference. We have to keep building fellas. Is all part of the process,” Molino told the group in the locker room.
“Take it in. the pitch, the lights, the atmosphere. This is what top level feels like. This is Premiership standard. Make the most of it.”
Then came Ghana — a step up, technically sound, powerful. The game tested every bit of focus the team had. But Trinidad and Tobago showed heart. They didn’t back down, and by the end, it was a worthy exercise and a chance for fringe players to get a taste.
Full Circle Moments
Between training sessions, old memories crept in. Someone would mention 2006, or laugh about an old camp story. Yorke and ‘Latas’ liked talking about that era and everyone knew what it meant to them to be back in England wearing the national colours again — this time, standing on the sideline instead of the field.
For the players, especially the younger ones, seeing their coach recognized and respected in England reminded them that football from a small island can still leave a mark anywhere in the world.
The Meaning of the Return
When the week wrapped, there was a quiet sense of satisfaction. The team didn’t just come to play matches, they came to rebuild identity and belief.
Almost 20 years ago, Yorke led Trinidad and Tobago as captain towards the biggest moment in the country’s football history. This time, his job was to light that spark again, to remind his players what it feels like to represent something bigger than themselves.
For those who were there — from Molino to Cardines, from the veterans who visited to the fans waving the flag in the stands, it felt like more than a trip. It felt like the start of something real.
