Cornwall College is no stranger to pressure. For a school with 12 daCosta Cup titles and a legion of demanding fans, anything less than a deep run feels like failure. Stepping into that crucible this season is Hector Wright — former national midfielder, seasoned coach, and now the man tasked with carrying the Red and Gold’s legacy forward.
Wright is not a newcomer to the touchline at Cornwall. Over the past three years, he has studied under the sharp tactical minds of Dr Dean Weatherly and Theodore Whitmore, absorbing lessons from two of the school’s most influential coaches. Now, with the reins in his own hands, Wright brings his own résumé — including a quarter-final finish with Anchovy High in 2019 and leadership at Herbert Morrison — to the programme.
The first hurdle will be navigating Zone A, traditionally one of the most unforgiving groups in the competition. Wright is clear-eyed about the challenge: before dreams of silverware can take shape, survival and dominance in the zone are the immediate goals.
Preseason offered signs of promise. Cornwall claimed the Montego Bay United Invitational crown in August, pocketing a million-dollar prize along the way. That run included clinical wins over Maldon High, Irwin High, and Frome Technical — the kind of momentum Wright hopes to carry into September’s opening whistle.
Much of the optimism rests on a defence marshalled by captain Deshaun Talbert. Wright has praised the backline’s cohesion, describing them as a unit that moves with a single mind. “Consistency and discipline at the back will be our anchor,” he said, underscoring his confidence in the group.
In attack, the return of national U-17 striker Corlando Morris could be decisive. With nine goals last season and fresh from national duty, Morris’ firepower adds another dimension to Cornwall’s ambitions.
For a school where expectation never dims, Wright’s challenge is stark: turn preparation into performance, potential into progress. The daCosta Cup campaign begins in September — and for Cornwall, the only measure of success is how far they go.
