Savannah's players (right) in action against Cavalier during a Jamaica Football Federation all-island confede-ration play-off football match at Boys' Town's Collie Smith Drive playing field on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. - File

WESTERN BUREAU:

First-time Premier League qualifiers, Savannah Sports Club, has had a faithful and loyal following since its inception and the fan base continues to be an important part of that success at the Westmoreland-based club.

True to form, the massive crowd that filled the Frome Sports Complex for the final Premier League qualifier back in May, proved just how huge their support base has grown.

"Savannah have always had very good support from the communities, from which it draws most of its players," the club's director of communications, Windel Dawson, said. "It is a pretty popular football club and this has gained more traction with our short but impressive history and success."

Savannah won the 2007-2008 Westmoreland FA division one title in their first attempt, then romped home in the Captain's Bakery and Grill sponsored Westmoreland Major League also in the club's first attempt the following season. The fairy tale continued with a spectacular run to claim the Western Confed Super League Crown in 2012, then qualified for the Premier League, ending the qualifying series in second place behind Cavalier.

"Westmoreland people are lovers of football. They will give support to any team representing the parish. However, Savannah have been able to pull in support, based on several factors. We have our diehard group of supporters and the there are those fans who choose to follow a winning team," Dawson revealed.

Savannah could enter the upcoming Premier League season with the biggest fan base of any team, certainly outside of KSAFA, based on what obtained during the qualifiers.

Such support was last seen when Reno were at the height of their game. That form brought them three titles in the 1980s. But with Reno on the decline and many of their fans disenchanted, could Savannah capitalise on this? "It is hard to simply say we have been benefiting from the decline of Reno. What we know is that which-ever team is at the top of football naturally will get good support," reasoned Dawson.

"This club has been on the receiving end of great support from the beginning, and with each success we have gained more; so to say that we have benefited from Reno's slide back to the Super League would not be accurate at all." Dawson added that outside of the daCosta Cup football matches, Savannah boast the biggest following of football loving fans in Westmoreland, something that many other clubs are struggling with.

"If we can get this fan base to really be our 12th man on match days, we will be in a good place for our first season in big time football," said Dawson.

Savannah have been the most active club in the transfer window, according to a Jamaica Football Federation report, with a number of players with premier league experience brought into the club, to bolster its squad to meet the demands of the rigours of top-flight football.

"The club have been very active in the transfer window to make our squad stronger for our first campaign in the Premier League," revealed Dawson.