Joe Public F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Trinidad and Tobago}} {{Update|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Joe Public | image = Joe Public tri.png | fullname = B Mobile Joe Public Football Club | nickname = Eastern Lions Saints | founded = {{Start date and age|1996}} | dissolved = {{Start date and age|2011}} | ground = [[Marvin Lee Stadium]] [[Tunapuna]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]] | capacity = 6,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/tri/marvin_lee_stadium |title=Marvin Lee Stadium – |publisher=Stadiumdb.com |date=15 June 2008 |accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref> | chairman = [[Austin "Jack" Warner|Jack Warner]] | manager = [[Rajesh Latchoo]] | league = [[National Super League]] | season = [[2010-11 TT Pro League|2010–11]] | position = TT Pro League, 3rd (relegated) | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | leftarm1 = ffffff | body1 = ffffff | rightarm1 = ffffff | shorts1 = 000000 | socks1 = ffffff | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | leftarm2 = ff0000 | body2 = ff0000 | rightarm2 = ff0000 | shorts2 = ff0000 | socks2 = ff0000 }}

'''Joe Public Football Club''' was a [[association football|football]] club from [[Trinidad and Tobago]] that used to play in the [[TT Pro League]]. Nicknamed the ''Eastern Lions'', it was owned by former [[FIFA]] vice-president [[Austin "Jack" Warner|Jack Warner]].

==History== Following the disappointment in 1996 of the [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad national team]], which saw the country fail to qualify for World Cup 1998, Austin "Jack" Warner proposed that creating a league to produce home grown players would function as the building blocks to qualify for the next World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Thus, the need for a professional league and the ability for clubs to operate as business entities, the Joe Public Football Club was formed.

After entering and winning the Eastern Football Association's Competitions in 1996, Joe Public qualified for and won the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association's Champion of Champions Tournament. This allowed the club entry into the Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) after only one season in existence. During the beginning years of the club's existence, Joe Public had established an operative football office with paid staff and employed several players from countries throughout the Caribbean, Nicaragua, Mexico and Brazil.

The club finished second in their first season of the SPFL in 1997, and in 1998 they won the Champions' League Tournament, the Craven A SPFL League title, and the CFU Caribbean Club Championship.<ref>{{cite news |title = Joe Public F.C. History |url = http://www.joepubliconline.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=49 |publisher = Joe Public F.C. Official Website |year = 2007 |access-date = 4 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081202023409/http://www.joepubliconline.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=49 |archive-date = 2 December 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

However, in 2004, Joe Public withdrew from the [[Professional Football League (Trinidad and Tobago)|Professional Football League]] to play in the National Super League, Trinidad and Tobago's second division, but returned after two years for the 2006 season, in which they clinched the league championship title.

In November 2007, as a result going undefeated through the group stage of the [[CFU Club Championship 2007]], Joe Public advanced to the knockout rounds after decisive wins over Sagicor South East United from [[Dominica]] 5–0, and [[SV Racing Club Aruba]] 7–0. In the quarterfinals they defeated [[Bassa F.C.]] from [[Antigua and Barbuda]] 4–0 and then in the semifinals, Joe Public upended the Puerto Rico Islanders 1–0 to advance to the final. On 16 November, Joe Public fell to [[Harbour View F.C.|Harbour View]] of [[Jamaica]] 1–2 to finish runner-up. However, due to the reorganized [[CONCACAF Champions' Cup]] into the CONCACAF Champions League, Joe Public qualified for the Champions League in August 2008.

===2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League=== On 26 August 2008, Joe Public faced the [[New England Revolution]], from the [[United States]] in the first leg of the preliminary round in the [[CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09]]. The ''Eastern Lions'' defeated New England Revolution 2–1 in front of a crowd of 2,100 at the [[Marvin Lee Stadium]]. Then, on the return leg before 3,523 spectators in [[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxborough]], Massachusetts, Public used a hat trick from [[Gregory Richardson]] in routing New England Revolution 4–0 in [[Gillette Stadium]] to advance to the group stage on a 6–1 aggregate score. With the result, Joe Public became the first Caribbean club to defeat a team from the [[United States]] in a CONCACAF club competition. In addition, Public were also the first to score as many as three goals against a club from the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title = Joe Public shuts down New England in prelims |url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=569037&cc=5901 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907043009/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=569037&cc=5901 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 7 September 2008 |publisher = Associated Press |date = 3 September 2008 |access-date = 3 September 2008}}</ref>

In the group stage, Joe Public were drawn with [[Atlante F.C.|Atlante]], [[C.D. Olimpia|Olimpia]], and [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]]. On 17 September 2008, Joe Public did not start the group stage on a positive note, falling 2–0 to [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] in [[Montreal]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Donatelli, Jordan lift Montreal past Joe Public 2:0 in CONCACAF Champions League |url = http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4385 |publisher = CONCACAF |date = 17 September 2008 |access-date = 17 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080919142150/http://concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4385 |archive-date = 19 September 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The ''Eastern Lions'' home opener for the CONCACAF Champions League did not go well either, as Joe Public lost 3–1 to C.D. Olimpia in the [[Marvin Lee Stadium]] giving the club no points from its first two games in the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |title = Bruschi scores pair, leads Olimpia to 3:1 victory over Joe Public |url = http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4401 |publisher = CONCACAF |date = 24 September 2008 |access-date = 25 September 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925191345/http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4401 |archive-date = 25 September 2008 }}</ref> However, in their third game, Joe Public traveled to [[Cancun, Mexico|Cancun]], Mexico and defeated [[Atlante F.C.|Atlante]] 1–0.<ref>{{cite news |title = Trinidad's Joe Public stuns Atlante in Cancun 1:0 |url = http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?ID=4426 |publisher = CONCACAF |date = 3 October 2008 |access-date = 3 October 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081003215841/http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4426 |archive-date = 3 October 2008 }}</ref> On 8 October, Joe Public lost another game in the group stage. This time they fell to [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] again 4–1, slashing the chances of Joe Public advancing beyond the group stage. With the loss to [[Atlante F.C.|Atlante]] 2–0 in [[Cancún]], [[Mexico]] on 21 October, Public was officially eliminated from the [[CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09]]. Finally, to finish the group stage, Public travelled to [[Tegucigalpa, Honduras|Tegucigalpa]], [[Honduras]] to face [[C.D. Olimpia|Olimpia]]. They lost the match 4–0 to end their run in the CONCACAF Champions League with a record of 3–0–5 in the competition, with a disappointing 1–0–5 record in the group stage to finish at the bottom of their group.

Only two days after a loss to Montreal Impact in the CONCACAF Champions League, Joe Public needed a goal from [[Gregory Richardson]] in the 47th minute to defeat [[San Juan Jabloteh F.C.|San Juan Jabloteh]] 1–0. With the win Joe Public advanced to the final of the [[Trinidad and Tobago League Cup|First Citizens Cup]]. However, in the final, [[W Connection F.C.|W Connection]] won a thrilling match, which saw Joe Public level the score 2–2 in the second half following a goal from [[Keyeno Thomas]]. But Public eventually lost the game on penalty kicks 6–5.

===Closure=== In 2011, Joe Public withdrew from TT Pro League due to issues arising from owner Jack Warner <ref>{{cite web |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/pro-league-not-surprised-by-joe-public-exit/ |title=Pro League not surprised by Joe Public exit {{!}} Antigua Observer Newspaper |website=antiguaobserver.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905142648/https://antiguaobserver.com/pro-league-not-surprised-by-joe-public-exit/ |archive-date=5 September 2018}}</ref> In 2014, the club withdrew from Super League due to financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/joe-public-withdraws-super-league-efa-6.2.387308.5110c372c6| title = Joe Public withdraws from Super League, EFA - Trinidad Guardian}}</ref>

==Stadium== [[Image:Marvin Lee Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|Marvin Lee Stadium]] Joe Public played their home games at the 6,000-capacity [[Marvin Lee Stadium]], located at the [[Dr. João Havelange Centre of Excellence]] in Tunapuna. The stadium was named after the national U-20 football captain, a standout defender at the time, who sustained head and neck injuries suffered in a collision with [[Landon Donovan]] in an U-20 game against the [[United States Men's National Soccer Team|United States]]. He was left paralysed after the incident and died of illness as a result of his weakened state. Lee was later recognised by the Trinidad and Tobago government for his service to the nation and is remembered as a strong-willed individual who refused to let his injuries get the better of him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marvin Lee Stadium |url=http://www.socawarriors.net/league.html?func=showPlayground&p=10&pgid=6 |publisher=Soca Warriors Online |date=30 July 2009 |access-date=30 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313125435/http://www.socawarriors.net/league.html?func=showPlayground&p=10&pgid=6 |archive-date=13 March 2012 }}</ref>

In 2005, Warner proposed that Marvin Lee Stadium install an artificial playing surface, citing that it would bring more credibility for the region.<ref>{{cite news|title=US$600,000 Artificial Pitch at Marvin Lee Stadium |url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-02-26/sports7.html |publisher=The Trinidad Guardian |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=6 September 2008 }} {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Two years later, through a developmental grant from [[FIFA]], Joe Public became the first Caribbean club to install an artificial playing surface, reportedly costing in excess of [[Trinidad and Tobago dollar|TT$]]8 million ([[United States dollar|US$]]600,000). The first game played on the newly installed playing surface saw Joe Public face [[Caledonia AIA F.C.|Caledonia AIA]] in a TT Professional Football League match, which Caledonia AIA won 1–0.

==Team management== {{When|date=January 2025}} * Head coach: '''Derek King''' * Asst coach: '''Ralph Nelson''' * Asst coach: '''Richard Mitchell''' * Team manager: '''Roland Sampath''' * Trainer: '''David Prince''' * Physiotherapist: '''David Cumberbatch''' * Physiotherapist: '''Adisa Davis''' * Equipment manager: '''Michael Williams'''

==Honours== '''Domestic''' *'''[[TT Pro League]]: 3''' **1998, 2006, [[2009 TT Pro League|2009]] *'''[[Trinidad and Tobago Cup|FA Trophy]]: 3''' **2001, 2007, [[2009 Trinidad and Tobago Cup|2009]] **Runner-up (2): 1999, 2000 *'''[[Trinidad and Tobago League Cup|First Citizens Cup]]: 0''' **Runner-up (2): [[2008 Trinidad and Tobago FCB Cup|2008]], [[2009 Trinidad and Tobago FCB Cup|2009]] *'''[[Trinidad and Tobago Classic|TOYOTA Classic]]: 1''' **2007, [[2009 Trinidad and Tobago Classic|2009]] **Runner-up (1): 2005 *'''[[Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl|Digicel Pro Bowl]]: 1''' **[[2009 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl|2009]]

'''Invitational''' *'''[[Kashif & Shanghai Knockout Tournament]]: 1''' **2007

'''International''' *'''[[CFU Club Championship]]: 2''' **[[CFU Club Championship 1998|1998]], [[CFU Club Championship 2000|2000]] **Runner-up (2): [[CFU Club Championship 2007|2007]], [[2010 CFU Club Championship|2010]]

==Year-by-year== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" !rowspan=2|'''Season''' !colspan=2|'''League season''' !rowspan=2|'''FA Trophy''' !rowspan=2|'''First Citizens Cup''' !rowspan=2|'''Digicel Pro Bowl''' !rowspan=2|'''TOYOTA Classic''' !rowspan=2|'''Lucozade Sport Goal Shield''' !rowspan=2|'''CFU Club Championship''' !rowspan=2|'''CONCACAF Champions League''' |- !League result !Big Six |- |'''1997''' |rowspan=1|2nd |rowspan=7| |''Unknown'' |rowspan=3| |rowspan=4| |rowspan=8| |rowspan=12| |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''1998''' |bgcolor="#DFE7FF"|Champions |Quarter-Finals |bgcolor="#E8FFD8"|Champions |Quarter-Finals |- |'''1999''' |2nd |Final |''Not Held'' |Quarter-Finals |- |'''2000''' |4th |Final |Semi-Finals |bgcolor="#E8FFD8"|Champions |Quarter-Finals |- |'''2001''' |2nd |bgcolor="#FFDFDF"|Champions |''did not qualify'' |Semi-Finals |''did not qualify'' |''Not Held'' |- |'''2002''' |3rd |Quarter-Finals |Semi-Finals |Semi-Finals |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''2003''' |5th |Quarter-Finals |Semi-Finals |''Unknown'' |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''2004''' |''Withdrew''† |''did not enter'' |''Abandoned'' |colspan=2|''did not enter'' |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''2005''' |''did not enter''† |''did not enter'' |colspan=3|''did not enter'' |Final |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''2006''' |bgcolor="#DFE7FF"|Champions |4th |Round of 16 |Quarter-Finals |''did not qualify'' |Quarter-Finals |colspan=2|''did not qualify'' |- |'''[[2007 TT Pro League|2007]]''' |2nd |3rd |bgcolor="#FFDFDF"|Champions |Quarter-Finals |Quarter-Finals |bgcolor="#DDCEF2"|Champions |Final |''did not qualify'' |- |'''[[2008 TT Pro League|2008]]''' |5th |5th |Round of 16 |Final |Quarter-Finals |Quarter-Finals |''Not Held'' |''did not qualify'' |- |'''[[2009 TT Pro League|2009]]''' |bgcolor="DFE7FF"|Champions |bgcolor="#FFEBAD"|Winners |bgcolor="#FFDFDF"|Champions |Final |bgcolor="#C3B091"|Champions |bgcolor="#DDCEF2"|Champions |Quarter-Finals |''did not qualify'' |Group Stage |- |'''[[2010–11 TT Pro League|2010–11]]''' |3rd |rowspan=2 | |Quarter-finals |Champions |colspan=3 style="border-bottom:0px;| |Second Place |''did not qualify'' |- |'''[[2011–12 TT Pro League|2011–12]]''' |''did not enter'' |colspan=6 style="border-bottom:0px;| |''Did not qualify'' |}

†''Joe Public voluntarily spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons in the National Super League. The Eastern Lions won the National Super League title in both years.''

==Continental record== *'''[[CFU Club Championship 1998|1998 CFU Club Championship]]''' ::Quarter-Finals v. {{flagicon|BAR}} [[Notre Dame SC|Notre Dame]] – 4:0 ::Semi-Finals v. {{flagicon|JAM}} [[Waterhouse F.C.|Waterhouse]] – 3:1 ::Final v. {{flagicon|TRI}} [[Caledonia AIA F.C.|Caledonia AIA Fire]] – 1:0

*'''[[CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1998|1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]]''' ::Quarter-Finals v. {{flagicon|USA}} [[D.C. United]] – 0:8

*'''[[CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1999|1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]]''' ::Quarter-Finals v. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]] – 0:2

*'''[[CFU Club Championship 2000|2000 CFU Club Championship]]''' ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|DMA}} [[Guinness Harlem Bombers]] – 2:0 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|SUR}} [[SV Robinhood]] – 5:0 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|ANT}} [[RKVFC Sithoc|RKV FC Sithoc]] – 7:0 ::Championship Group v. {{flagicon|HAI}} [[Carioca F.C.|Carioca]] – 1:1 ::Championship Group v. {{flagicon|JAM}} [[Harbour View F.C.|Harbour View]] – 1:1 ::Championship Group v. {{flagicon|TRI}} [[W Connection F.C.|W Connection]] – 1:0

*'''[[CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2000|2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]]''' ::Quarter-Finals v. {{flagicon|MEX}} [[C.F. Pachuca|Pachuca]] – 0:1

*'''Copa Finta Internacional (in Brazil)''' ::Third place

*'''[[CFU Club Championship 2007|2007 CFU Club Championship]]''' ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|DMA}} [[Sagicor South East United]] – 5:0 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|ARU}} [[SV Racing Club Aruba]] – 7:0 ::Quarter-Finals v. {{flagicon|ATG}} [[Bassa F.C.|Bassa]] – 4:0 ::Semi-Finals v. {{flagicon|PUR}} [[Puerto Rico Islanders]] – 1:0 ::Final v. {{flagicon|JAM}} [[Harbour View F.C.|Harbour View]] – 1:2

*'''[[CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09|2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League]]''' ::Preliminary Round v. {{flagicon|USA}} [[New England Revolution]] – 2:1, 4:0 (Joe Public F.C. advances 6:1 on aggregate) ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Montreal Impact (1992–2011)|Montreal Impact]] – 0:2, 1:4 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|HON}} [[Club Deportivo Olimpia|Olimpia]] – 1:3, 0:4 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Atlante F.C.|Atlante]] – 1:0, 0:2

*'''[[2010 CFU Club Championship]]''' ::First Round v. {{flagicon|SUR}} [[SV Leo Victor]] – 4:3 ::First Round v. {{flagicon|VIN}} [[Avenues United FC|Avenues United]] – 6:0 ::First Round v. {{flagicon|BER}} [[Devonshire Cougars]] – 8:2 ::Second Round v. {{flagicon|SUR}} [[Walking Boys Company|Walking Boys]] – 5:0 ::Second Round v. {{flagicon|VIN}} [[Saint Vincent Motor Systems 3|Systems 3]] – 3:1 ::Final Round v. {{flagicon|TRI}} [[San Juan Jabloteh F.C.|San Juan Jabloteh]] – 1:0 ::Final Round v. {{flagicon|PUR}} [[Puerto Rico Islanders]] – 1:1 ::Final Round v. {{flagicon|PUR}} [[Bayamón FC|Bayamón]] – 1:3

*'''[[2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League]]''' ::Preliminary Round v. {{flagicon|CRC}} [[Brujas F.C.|Brujas]] – 2:2, 4:2 (Joe Public F.C. advances 6:4 on aggregate) ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|GUA}} [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]] – 2:3, 1:1 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Santos Laguna|Santos]] – 2:5, 1:5 ::Group Stage v. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Columbus Crew]] – 1:4, 0:3

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.socawarriors.net/component/joomleague/?func=showClubInfo&p=10&cid=3/ Profile on Soca Warriors Online].{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313125422/http://www.socawarriors.net/component/joomleague/?func=showClubInfo&p=10&cid=3%2F |date=13 March 2012 }}.

[[Category:Joe Public F.C.| ]] [[Category:Football clubs in Trinidad and Tobago]] [[Category:1996 establishments in Trinidad and Tobago]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1996]] [[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2011]]