Guernsey play Gibraltar at last year’s NatWest Island Games in Aland. The two sides could meet more often if the International Challenge Shield comes to fruition. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0797280)

TONY VANCE has welcomed the idea of a small nations international tournament being steered by the English Football Association.

‘If it gets off the ground it would be brilliant,’ said the island boss yesterday.

‘It certainly looks like the FA are keen on it so we’ve got some backing there.’

The working title for the tournament is the ‘International Challenge Shield’ and it is aimed at islands such as Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and the other European islands unable to break into the Uefa championship set-up.

The FA is well aware that the two main Channel Islands are starved of regular representative football and is keen to play a role in helping an event which would be beneficial to two of their member counties.

The initial plan is to stage the Challenge Shield over a two-year period, much like the Carlsberg FA National League System Cup.

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