This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

STEVE OGIER has said that the Non-League World Cup idea that is being banded about in the UK is ‘very interesting’. The brainchild of Paul Fairclough, England’s non-league team manager, it would see countries such as England, Brazil, America and Italy’s representative non-league sides enter into a two-week competition. And it has also been suggested that the tournament would be open to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Island coach Ogier is intrigued by the idea but has reservations that the standard could be too high for the greens.

‘Why not? It would be very interesting,’ he said.

‘But I’m not sure it’s the sort of level that we’re playing. To be honest [the other teams] are playing non-league.

‘Would we be out of our depth? But I’m all for pushing our football forward and for challenging our players more.’

Ogier went on to draw comparisons between the Non-League World Cup suggestion and the Guernsey United proposal.

The idea to enter Guernsey into a lower English league has been widely discussed recently but has since gone quiet.

‘A lot of people come up with good ideas,’ said Ogier.

‘It’s just been mooted about us playing in a league in England and if they said to me tomorrow that we’re entering a Non-League World Cup, it would be brilliant. But it’s not as simple as that.’

Ogier’s opposite number in Jersey Dave Kennedy is keen on the plan but also has his reservations.

‘It certainly sounds an attractive competition but I’m not quite sure how it would work,’ said Jersey boss.

‘There would have to be a lot of consultation between the clubs and the association. Overall it’s quite interesting.

‘We’re looking to find extra competitions that our players can compete in and are financially suitable. It’s important that we’re playing against players of a good standard on a regular basis.’

At present, nation’s non-league representative sides take part in the International Challenge Trophy.

The competition has a two-group set up with the final taking place in 2009.

The countries involved include England, Belgium, Italy, Wales, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

Fairclough believes that this number will double next time the Trophy is held strengthening his call for a World Cup.

And his plans have received backing from the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, James Purnell, who is a supporter of non-league football.

‘I would of course discuss a Non-League World Cup - and if it’s a competition we can win then there would be a real enthusiasm for it. I’d happily look at it,’ he said.