Sports Minister Randy Horton will be honoured for outstanding services rendered in football and to the Government of Bermuda during a special award ceremony at Somerset Cricket Club later this month.

Horton heads a short list of individuals who will be honoured for contributions made to the local community over the years by the Jamaican Ambassadors of America who arrive on Island in three weeks for a six-day tour.

Horton will be honoured at Somerset Cricket Club on Saturday, November 25.

Horton was a member of Somerset Trojans’ 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70 Triple Crown-winning teams before progressing to the professional ranks with North American Soccer League (NASL) side New York Cosmos.

In 1972 Horton led Cosmos to a maiden NASL Championship, the same year he was voted as the league’s MVP.

He also made his mark locally in cricket, captaining Somerset Cricket Club to a famous Cup Match victory over rivals St. George’s Cricket Club in 1979 — the West Enders’ first victory over their East End rivals in 20 years.

Horton is now the second Somerset footballer to be honoured by the Jamaican Ambassadors after Clyde Best.

“We chose Randy because he is from the old school and recognition is certainly due to him. He is a part of the football fraternity and I remember the years he was playing at New York Cosmos,” said Jamaican Ambassadors president Leonard (Chicken) Mason.

Others due to be recognised include past Jamaican Association president Marlene Flynn-Simons, Jamaican Counsel General Winston Laylor, restaurant owner Victor Alleyne, former top cricketer Lloyd Morrison and youth football coach Harold (Doc) Dowling.

This will be the Jamaican football side’s fifth straight tour of Bermuda, where over the years they have conducted youth football clinics, donated computers and software to local schools, played against local opposition and also honoured greats such as Carlton (Pepe) Dill, Wendell (Joe) Trott and Best.

Jamaican Ambassadors were also instrumental in soliciting recognition from Britain for former West Ham striker Best for his pioneering exploits in the English game.

The visiting Jamaicans plan to conduct at least three youth football clinics and stage two football matches on their upcoming tour of Bermuda in addition to honouring several local personalities for their services in the community.

“We’re going to be running coaching seminars for the kids and bringing along free caps and tee shirts for them,” Mason explained.

Presently the youth coaching seminars have been scheduled for two venues, Devonshire Recreation Club and Somerset Cricket Club.

The visiting Jamaicans, who will also play two matches against a local All Star XI, arrive on the Island on Wednesday, November 22 and depart Tuesday, November 28.