THE local football fraternity has once again plunged into mourning, following the passing of former national forward Winston ‘Pat’ Britton, who died yesterday at the Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

The former National player who is well known for being part of one of the most destructive teams ever assembled in Guyana, Sandbach Parker, is survived by his two children – Wayne and Abigail Britton – as well as grandchildren.
In fact, Britton’s grandchildren (Wynton and Jada Britton) from his eldest child Wayne are football players.

Britton, who was 75 years old at the time of his death, was known for his silky-smooth moves ‘upfront’, while having his way with the country’s top defenders at the time.
More popularly known as Pat, Britton graced the football pitch with the likes of Winston Callender, Ovid Henry, George Green, Bruce Cadogan, Monty Hope, George Niles, Alvin Braithwaite, Gerald ‘Beef’ Francisco and Ken Gibbs just to name a few.

“I know a lot about him as a player because we always have this discussion about who was better,” said Britton’s eldest son Wayne, who was also a football player.
However, the attorney-at-law said while he was good on the field, “My Dad noted he wanted me to study. He wanted me to get more out of life than what he got from soccer. So as a schoolboy I played without my parents’ knowledge and made Pele and once I graduated I played with Beacon (under Gordon ‘Ultimate’ Braithwaite).”
Wayne said his father was ‘big’ on his children having a good education, highlighting that his sister Abigail, is a doctor in the U.S.