JERSEY wouldn’t be Jersey if it did not overdo the self-gushing and they haven’t let themselves down on that point when it comes to promoting the Tour de Bretagne which arrives in the sister isle this weekend.

I quote from the top of page three of an eight-page pullout in the ‘Jersey Evening Post this week:

‘Imagine Manchester United or AC Milan coming to play a free football match in your local park – an event where you could just walk up and watch the best in the world play without having to pay a penny’.

My answer to that is: ‘Where’s Contador, Armstrong, Cavendish, and Wiggins, plus dozens more you will see week in, week out, on Eurosport’s brilliant cycling coverage?

Doing bigger and better things, or simply resting up ahead of the really big events, is the answer to that.

But the purpose of this column is not to knock Jersey or their two days of the Tour de Bretagne. Far from it.

Hats off to the ‘crapauds’ for having the enterprise, ambition, logistical expertise and power to stage such a grand and worthwhile international cycling event as this one.

I’d like to see us do it.

It is a massive operation, with a multitude of roads being closed off, free bus services to get the best viewpoints, and collectively one in the eye for Guernsey sport who continue to fail to establish serious and effective sporting links with our nearest mainland neighbours.

Staging such events doesn’t come cheap either, but Jersey have come up with the dosh and will have done so knowing full well it will boost their tourism numbers, particularly those hopping over from Brittany, considerably.

It’s such a shame that we, despite our mass of banks and finance houses, are unable to bring really major sporting spectaculars to our own shores.

If Jersey can do this, the Isle of Man their TTs and other major motorcycle events, surely we can come up with something a bit more exciting than an international chess festival.

The politicians can say what they like, but they don’t see the link between major sport and tourism.

If there is one galling thing for Jersey, though, it is that the only Channel Islander they can shout for in tomorrow’s stage race and Monday’s individual time-trial, is a Guernseyman.

Tobyn Horton carries our hopes in the sister isle this weekend and that he has broken into the pro ranks to challenge for honours in the week-long European Tour events, is a credit to his perseverance and his ability.

It will, surely, only serve to further encourage the likes of Dan Arblaster, James McLaughlin and Josh Gosselin, fast developing young Guernsey riders who, if they keep going in the right direction, will be among the 200-plus peleton at future Jersey-based tour stages.

ONE of the grand old men of local football celebrated his 90th this week.

St Martin’s quiet, smiling stalwart Lewis Laine clocked up another milestone, and no visit to Blanche Pierre Lane would be the same with ‘Lou’ not about.

‘Lou’ has never been the vocal type, but behind that gentlest of natures I wonder what he really thinks about football’s ever-growing trend of filling the technical areas with cross-armed tracksuited statues, many of whom never say anything worthwhile at all or, if they do, simply repeat what the main coach said.

It really is getting to ridiculous proportions.

Football is a simple game and one set of instructions is surely all that a player/team requires.

Even more so at youth and mini level I would have thought, where the poor kid is already being told what to do by sporting dad and mom on the touchline.