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Coupled with Manchester High's journey to the Ben Francis Cup finals for the first time is the recognition of coach Sheldon Davis' first big break at the helm.
It was far from the prognosis at the start of the season when it was clear that Baron Watson, the man who had successfully guided the programme at Manchester for the last five years, would not continue in that role from the onset of the training season.
Davis, who had played on Watson's Division-one team at Mile Gully, was the assistant coach, but there were question marks as to whether he was ready to take charge. Watson, considered the most accomplished coach in these parts, had shoes that were seemingly just too big to fill.
Doubts surrounding Davis' ability had surfaced after a team he coached was dumped from the semi-final of the Manchester Under-17 competition, by a team he had beaten 4-0 in the preliminary round. Principal Jasford Gabriel's call to elevate Davis was seen as a brave one, but as the season would unfold, a visionary one, according to Pat Anderson, a former member of the school board and current member of the sports council.
"You have to give the principal credit in the first place, as I gather far bigger names were interested in the job (of coaching)," Anderson told Star Sports, after watching the team defeat Paul Bogle 1-0 at Juici-Patties Park on Wednesday.
Under Davis this season Manchester have been unbeaten, however, of significance is the important statistic that the first team has yet to concede a single goal in 12 games so far. A 4-2 win earned in an inconsequential final game of the preliminary round, when Davis rested his first string goalkeeper and several key players, represented their only blemish on a clean sheet.
Supporters have generally held back on heaping kudos on Davis, but Anderson feels it is time to openly give him his due.
"Davis must get his due for the job he has done and the youngsters seem to be playing for him judging by how they ran to him after the goal was scored."
Davis might have also felt especially proud, as the player who provided the goal, via a magnificent 25-yard free kick, was Shenaldo Parkes, another of his charges from the Mile Gully community and club.
There has been quiet admission among circles of spectators, who follow the team, that one notable difference Davis has brought is defensive discipline, and the team is less vulnerable under siege.
However, Davis had taken a humble approach when these factors, his role in Manchester's ascendancy to their second senior schoolboy final in three years, were posed byStar Sports. He instead gave credit to former coach Barry Watson and the players.
"This is really not my programme, I am just continuing what was built, along the same philosophy," he said.
"I am blessed to be surrounded by an intelligent and talented set of youngsters."
