This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

Ryan-Zico Black is in the Bamber Bridge squad for the trip to Gigg Lane. (0461868)

MANCHESTER UNITED’S second side are in the sights of Ryan-Zico Black, the Guernsey semi-pro.

Tonight at Gigg Lane, the home of Bury, Black expects to line up in the Bamber Bridge side aiming to deny FC United in the semi-finals of the Unibond First Division North promotion play-offs.

A crowd of up to 5,000 is expected, the vast majority the followers of FC United, the breakaway side born out of the disgruntlement of the Glazers’ takeover of Man. United.

Black, now 26, moved to Bamber Bridge from Lancaster City a few weeks ago and is confident his new club can spring a surprise today.

Victory would put Bamber Bridge in the promotion play-off final on Saturday against either Skelmersdale or Curzon United.

Bradford Park Avenue won the one automatic promotion place into the Unibond Premier.

Playing so high up the national league structure continues to offer Black a living, although it is now supplemented by a community coaching job with Morecambe FC.

And his message for Guernsey’s top footballers is to join him in the national structure.

On the eve of the promotion play-off, he said playing for a Guernsey side in a UK league is a proposal that appeals to him.

‘I’d definitely be interested in playing for them. It’s definitely the way forward and I’ve written about it in my book.’

That said, Black reaffirmed playing for Guernsey would cost.

‘I’ve always done it as a living and I’m not really ready to go amateur yet. I’ve taken a bit of a drop to come to Bamber Bridge but I’ve always got a full-time wage for what is a part-time job.’

The switch to Bamber Bridge came out of the blue, he says.

Once Lancaster City’s play-off hopes disappeared – they play in the same league – they immediately looked to offload their best paid player.

He had 24 hours to find a new club before the transfer deadline and got a call from Bamber Bridge, based in Irongate, near Preston.

‘It’s good here and I’m really enjoying it. It is good to still be playing for something at this stage of the season.

‘They [FC United] have home advantage but our lads are up for it and I think we will be all right.’

Guernsey football followers will be surprised to learn that the man who led the line at the 2005 Island Games in Shetland is now playing as a central midfielder.

He is also expanding his football knowledge through coaching.

‘I have just finished my level-two coaching badge and looking to do my Uefa B in July. I’ve been coaching in the community for the last seven months.’

Article posted on 30th April, 2008 - 2.30pm