OSSIE ARDILES and Ricky Villa influenced winning FA Cup campaigns and, tonight at the Corbet field, will each have a hand in the destiny of the Guernsey version in 2009-10.
Twenty-eight years after they paraded the FA Cup, the Argentinian duo will make the draw for the Clydesdale International FA Cup which has attracted an entry of 16 teams.
The presence in the island of two Spurs legends is a coincidental slice of luck for the Guernsey Football Association who have signed a deal with Clydesdale to back this year’s local cup.
Ardiles and Villa, who clinched the ’81 cup replay with one of the greatest goals in the cup’s history, appear at a Tottenham Legends night at the Farmhouse tomorrow, alongside Steve Perryman, their skipper in 1981.
‘It’s going to be a fantastic night,’ said Alan Le Prevost (pictured), the former Guernsey manager and big ‘Tottingham’ fan, to quote Ardiles in his time with the club.
‘There are no tickets available as it has been sold out for a few weeks, mainly by Spurs supporters,’ said Le Prevost.
On the new sponsorship deal, GFA chairman Mark Le Tissier is grateful for the new support and is hopeful that the event will soon return to the grandeur of its early years.
‘As an organisation, this bank is well aware of how attractive football can be for sponsors and I’m delighted that they have chosen to become involved with the GFA,’ said Le Tissier.
‘The Guernsey FA Cup is the youngest trophy in our stable, I know it’s a popular one among the clubs and the final is a high-profile occasion.’
James Blower, managing director of Clydesdale Bank International, described the event as ‘a fantastic competition’.
‘Clydesdale are huge supporters of football and sponsor the Scottish Premier League and Clydesdale Bank International are delighted to extend this support to Guernsey with its sponsorship of Guernsey Athletics FC and now the FA Cup.’
Article posted on 3rd November, 2009 - 2.30pm
One Article Comment
Perhaps Spurs would be better off if Ardiles and Villa were still playing…they may have got a better result against their arch rivals last Saturday?! :-)
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