Phillip Gregory Alleyne, founder of the Dominica Cricket Umpires Association and the Referees Association, is dead. Alleyne died of natural causes in his hometown of Newtown at the age of 92. Local and official reports reveal he had been sick for some time.
In his younger days, Alleyne played football for Notre Dame as a centre-forward in Dominica. During his stay with Notre Dame, he played for Dominica against HMS Snipe and HMS Glasgow – two battleships. He also played soccer for Arsenal and Thunderstorm as well.
Following a rewarding a career at Notre Dame, Alleyne also played cricket at the club level as an all-rounder.
He retired from active sports and headed the Dominica Cricket Umpires Association for several years until he retired in 1995. He was instrumental to the creation of the Referees Association and was the president until he retired. Alleyne was the Area Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association for the Windward Islands until his retirement.
He was also an executive of the Dominica Amateur Sports Association (DASA) – the representative body for all sports on the island back in those days. He coached the Dominica football team in 1965 and the national cricket team in 1969. He officiated a cricket game between West Indies and Australia in 1978 and in 1979. He was also officiated in 14 Shell Shield matches.
Alleyne became the first Dominican to become a first-class umpire after passing the examination in 1972, together with Simon Roberts. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 by the Dominica Football Association.
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