This Is Guernsey

Jersey Wanderers take on Bels at Foote’s Lane. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0554007)

THE sponsors of the recent inaugural Guernsey Girls’ Soccer Festival stepped in at the 11th hour to save the day.

With heavy seas cancelling the boats, four teams from Jersey seemed unable to come for the event at Foote’s Lane.

But Ozannes and Sigma Group put their hands in their pockets and paid for them all to fly over to ensure that the festival could go ahead.

‘It was incredible and we couldn’t believe it when they said they would fund the flights,’ said festival organiser Paul Wheatley.

‘I was gobsmacked and the girls from Jersey were gobsmacked as well that someone would pay for them to come over.’

The festival was put together for girls from school Year 1 (five-year-olds) to Year 11 (16).

The Jersey teams included First Tower and Jersey Wanderers.

Rangers, Rovers, Bels and Vale Rec joined them among other local clubs.

The only school to attend, La Hougette Primary School, also entered three teams.

The festival saw teams made up of six and seven-a-side for eight-year-olds up and five-a-side for five to seven-year-olds.

There were prizes for various areas of the game including best goal and best supporting player.

Wheatley said the day had not been about competition.

‘It was about bringing girls together and giving them the chance to play football,’ he said.

‘Next year we want to do a much bigger thing getting towards what the boys have [in their festival].’

Some of the players on show will represent the island’s clubs in Jersey at under-13 and under-15 levels later this year.

The older girls will be playing Jersey on the women’s Muratti day on Sunday 4 May in Jersey and will then watch the seniors’ final.

Also recently, La Mare de Carteret won the Fletcher Sports Schoolgirls’ Football Tournament for Years 9 and 10.

It was the second year on the trot that they have taken the title.