During the 1930s Naparima fielded teams with some outstanding football players including Morris Jones, Syl Dopson, Jean Rigault, Peter Huber and Willie Payne. Payne was more than just a footballer as he was very proficient in cricket, table tennis and as a weight lifter. Willie once wanted to participate in a weight-lifting competition, which was being held on a Sunday. His father, a Protestant minister, did not allow Willie to indulge in any sporting activity on Sundays. To hide his involvement from his father, Willie registered as Ishams, adopting the name of a prominent Egyptian weight lifter. Willie won the 148-weight class.

Payne was the most dominant college player of that period. He was selected on the Colonial team, which represented Trinidad on its first tour of Jamaica in December 1935. “Payne is the left winger and is still at College and his selection will prove very advantageous to that side. He is accurate in his work, hard working, speedy, can cut in and score when least expected and most of all, possesses a wide knowledge, not only of the game but the key of his position.” P.Jones, the QRC right winger, was the only other college student on the team.

The first test was significant for Trinidad, Jamaica and Naparima. The Jamaica Gleaner reported, “For the first ten minutes exchanges were very even. Soon however the players settled down to better football and Jamaica saw Huntley Da Costa passing to McKenzie who tested Ambard with a crisp low shot, the Trinidad boy correctly anticipating and clearing neatly.

“Jamaica continued to press but Parke and Harvey ran into a regular "Rock of Gibraltar" in Maynard. However, an error of judgment on his part gave Jamaica her first goal. Maynard mis-kicked and the ball passed quietly into the net for the first goal ever scored between Jamaica and Trinidad.

“Our visitors took possession of the play for the first time as the game restarted. L. Henderson and Alkins took the ball down the field for Henderson to send out a well-judged pass to Payne, who slammed the ball at Clarence with terrific pace. He had not time to gather it and hit the ball down but it landed just over the goal line giving Trinidad its first goal against Jamaica.

“Trinidad went ahead as the result of a brilliant bit of position play by L. Henderson. Tench’s pass was so well judged that Henderson, starting as the ball was kicked was two yards past both backs by the time it dropped, and had nothing to do but put it into the net.

“Jamaica was going up the hill when Huntley, Da Costa and McKenzie working together broke through for Huntley to net a fine shot.

“A fairly heavy shower fell at this stage of the game, and helped Trinidad to a certain extent, as they are more accustomed to a heavy ball. Then came another movement very similar to the one which got Trinidad's first goal—Harold Burnett drawing the defense to pass across to Payne coming in off the left wing, a really neat bit of tactics, and once again Payne scored, putting Trinidad in the lead for good.

“For the visitors Maynard, Tench, and Payne were brilliant.”

Willie Payne, a Naparima student from Irving Street in San Fernando who played back and left wing for his college was selected as left wing on the first Trinidad Team that toured Jamaica in 1935. Payne scored the first as well as the third goal Trinidad ever scored against Jamaica. Trinidad won the inaugural match 3-2 and the series 3-0. Naparima can proudly boast that one of its students scored the first goal Trinidad scored against Jamaica.