This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

THE Guernsey Football Association is asking the public to help it name its new leagues. As part of the FA’s five-year National Game Strategy that has attracted immense UK media attention, the GFA are revamping the island’s leagues.

The Priaulx, Jackson and Railway divisions along with Youth One for under-18s, will be replaced by a new structure, with promotion and relegation between the senior divisions. There will also be a new development league for players between 18 and 23 years old.

The GFA board has come up with the name Senior County League Division One, Two and Three, but it is sufficiently unconvinced in its public relations expertise that it has launched a ‘Name the Leagues’ competition.

‘This is the most radical change to Guernsey football in its history and we don’t have the monopoly on good ideas and would love to hear the suggestions of anyone with an interest in local football,’ said the GFA’s commercial director, James Blower.

‘Given the extent of the change, first, second and third division doesn’t do it justice, so we’re looking for local football supporters to show us their creativity.’

People have until next Thursday to submit their suggestions to Blower on 755364 or james.blower @ barclayswealth.com.

The GFA will go through the suggestions ahead of its upcoming annual meeting and a unspecified prize will be given to the best one.

North coach Mick Le Prevost (pictured) is not too impressed with the GFA’s own effort.

‘Why are they changing it from Priaulx anyway?’ he asked.

‘We’re not a county. We’re an island.

‘It’s always been called the Priaulx. I don’t know why they are going to change it.

‘I thought they were going to call it Priaulx One, Two and Three. I would have kept it the same.’

One idea being banded about is to copy the English game and call the Priaulx the Premiership and the Jackson the Championship.

Bels captain Leighton Chainey is a fan of that.

‘I like the idea of Priaulx Premiership and Priaulx Championship,’ he said.

‘It sounds a bit better than Senior County. It sounds like we’re an old team.’

However, the newly crowned Players’ Player of the Year, Craig Young, is not a fan of the Premiership idea.

‘That’s going too much like professional football whereas we’re amateurs,’ said the North striker.

‘The sport is in need of a change but I don’t really know about changing the name. It’s been there for a while.

‘I would have kept the name. Ever since I started playing football, I wanted to play in the Priaulx.

‘Everyone knows what it is but I don’t think the name matters too much.’

Vale Rec captain and island keeper Jody Bisson can see the benefits of calling the new competitions the Senior County Leagues.

‘It brings it in line with the UK and it could open more doors that way,’ he said.

‘It’s something that people away from Guernsey will recognise. They don’t know what the Priaulx League is.

‘But I’m nonplussed and very relaxed about it.’

Article posted on 24th May, 2008 - 9.30am