Sad News...

Dear Alums & Friends,

It is with a heavy heart I write to let you know of the death of former URI player Winston Griffiths this past Saturday October 23rd in Kingston, Jamaica. At this point the details and cause of death are unknown. He was 33 years old.

Winston came to the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 1999 as part of a long line of successful Jamaican players of his time to wear Rhody Blue including Andy Williams, Nicholas McCreath, Dennis Richards, Conrad Hibbert and Anthony Curtis just to name a few.

Although Winston played only one season at URI he made his mark in 1999 scoring 9 goals and 8 assists in 19 games. That year Rhody finished the regular season 15-2-1 (10-1-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference) while winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship with identical 7-0 shutouts of UMass and Duquesne in the semi-final and final. Winston was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team along with 6 other teammates. The 1999 squad went on to win an NCAA play-in game over Mercer before bowing out to intra-state rival Brown in the NCAA first round.

Winston began his professional career with the Connecticut Wolves in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. In 2002 he was drafted by the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer and sent to the NY/NJ Metrostars before the season began. Later that season he was traded to the LA Galaxy and then to the New England Revolution where he reached the 2002 MLS Cup. Following his stint in MLS he played for Portmore United (2003) and the Vancouver Whitecaps (2004) before returning to Jamaica to sign with Arnett Gardens of the Jamaican National Premier League (NPL). He also played professionally in the Canadian Soccer League for Toronto Supra before returning to Jamaica in 2007, signing with Sporting Central in the NPL.

On the international stage Winston made his debut for the Jamaican National Team against Guatemala and earned 28 caps from 1998-2002, scoring 2 goals for the Reggae Boyz.

The entire URI soccer family is saddened by this news and I know you join me in sending our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and former teammates.

God Bless you Winston,
Coach O’C