THE ‘Big Fal’ factor was the main reason St Martin’s won the Priaulx League insists one of the club’s top players. Kevin Gilligan yesterday emphasised the importance of the role that Colin Fallaize played in rebuilding a faltering set-up when he returned to the club he served with such distinction as a player.

‘We were heading towards the start of the season in a bit of a mess with Steve [Ogier] leaving and the senior players got together to discuss where to go from there,’ said Gilligan.

‘There was only one person who we really wanted and that was Colin Fallaize. We did not know if he would be interested, but we said if we could just get him then it would help turn things around.

‘That was the appointment Colin Renouf wanted as well. That way Fal could help him on the coaching side of things because Colin just wants to concentrate on the technical side.’

Fallaize had an immediate impact although Gilligan readily admitted that winning the Priaulx was due to be a two-to-three year plan rather than something achieved within eight months.

‘In terms of results, no [I did not expect such an impact] but in terms of atmosphere at the club, yes. The first training session with him gave everyone a lift,’ he said.

‘Up to about a month ago, we were not thinking about winning it, just getting back up to where we were two or three seasons ago and challenging for a Wheway spot.

‘But he is a motivator, he makes it fun and that is what it needed. I have never been so happy doing push-ups in all my life.

‘It has been hard training. We have not done much technical stuff; it has really been about getting us fit and getting us confident playing together as a team with a view to, next year, working forward from there. So we have exceeded expectations.’

As it turned out, the one person missing from Saturday’s celebrations was ‘Big Fal’ himself because he was out of the island.

Gilligan spoke to him after the match and, typical of the coach, he was quick to point out that Saints’ season was not over because they still have the Jeremie and Upton Cup finals to work towards and he would see them all at training.

‘He was obviously disappointed that he could not be there but it did not affect us on the day.

‘I remember when he was going to miss the matches against Rangers and Sylvans and he spoke to us after training before he went away.

‘He must have spoken for about half-an-hour and at the start of it he was saying how disappointed he was that he was not going to be there.

‘But by the end he had convinced himself that we did not need him there, that he had already done his work in training and he would be disappointed if we did not consider ourselves ready and able to cope without him.’

Gilligan added that despite achieving their goal a year or two early, Saints still had much to aim for in the next few seasons.

‘Now we move forward and improve the standard of our football. We may also attract a few new players and we have a lot more juniors coming through,’ he said.

‘The youngsters have surprised me with how well they have played this season, they have improved so much.

‘In defence, the likes of Etienne Ogier, Steve Concanen and Sam Rowe have been excellent and Nathan [Pattimore] has matured well. That is a pretty good platform for an island side in my eyes. And while, yes, we do not have a recognised striker, Alex [Hunter] and Dominic [Heaume] have done fantastically well.

‘It has, very much, been a team mentality.’

nﾆJERSEY SCOTTISH are within a point of clinching the Jersey First Division title and an Upton Park Trophy showdown with St Martin’s

at Foote’s Lane on 24 April.

The Scots need just a draw from their last game away to St Paul’s

on Monday 19 April to guarantee themselves a seventh championship, but the first in five seasons.

Should the Scots lose and Trinity win both their remaining games against the two relegated sides, the title will be decided by a play-off.