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The problem with GFC and the ”youth” arguement is that yes it will encourage 11 year olds that there is something to aim for but when they are 16/17 and playing in a poor quality local league with no coverage or crowds they are hardly going to put the work in to reach the next level and will quickly become demotivated.

They’d be much better off at 16 playing against top Priaulx players and playing in the odd systems cup than against teams that can barely get 11 players out

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I unlike probably most of the anti GFC whingers on here, have been to a game. Tried to watch it but it was so one sided that I left just after half time, the away team were awful and didnt even have the same coloured socks on across the team!

I am also a Guernseyman to the core and feel it is a great shame that you just dont see the bigger picture.

It is complete rubbish that GFC will encourage far more into the game, when players/youngsters realise that there are only 11 shirts to play for if you aim for GFC and the standard you will need to be will be unacheivable for 99% of players. Of course support for youth football is to be encouraged, but unless the bulk of players ultimately aim to play for Bels, North, Rovers etc etc week in week out they are never realistically going to even get a game. Most just will not be good enough to aim at a higher level like GFC where the current level is very poor and eventually it will be far superior and GFC will not be able to compete by just using Guernsey players.

Go into the schools and be realistic to the kids about local football, tell them the importance of playing well for their clubs if they want to have any chance at all of playing for GFC.

Now GFC fan

No the Priaulx and the rest of the local game was not in a good state of affairs before GFC came along but it is in one heck of a worse state now!

Your comments show just how much you know about local football. Bels might be in a great position this year, at the moment, but they did not even finish in the top 3 last year. They have obviously worked hard to repair their league position and good for them. To state that the League was generally won by one of the top three (not big three as Bels would not be involved in a big three list in some peoples eyes) is probably correct and these things do go in cycles but at least in the main the 7 team league was competitive with even the bottom sides pulling off the odd shock. The top 3 or 4 or even 5 teams always stood a chance at the start of the season, just the same as they do today. So dont come the big 3 running away with it comment, the GFA season thus far has been competitive and some excellent football has been played and what Bels have achieved so far this season is excellent and for some said at the start, and that includes the press, they would struggle for a Wheway spot come the end of the season. They are not in a league of their own and if they are doing better than anyone else right now it has nothing to do with history it has to do with what the club and the coaches are doing right now.

Clubs agreed to its inception at the start as they were under the impression, as actually, verbally said by Tony Vance, that GFC was there to find the next Matt Le Tissier. It was to put players in the shop window and give them exposure that they would otherwise not get. It was pushed and pushed that it must be seen as a community venture as that is what the sponsors wanted to hear and see in the local/national media. The inclusion of Rob Batiste and his appearance at the initial meetings when discussing the venture with the clubs was a very clever move by GFC. He could provide much needed local exposure and could use the ‘community’ word in every sentence written to ensure the sponsor gets what he wants. He has been used as a publicity puppet which probably did a good job at the start but now there are more of us who are getting to the point that enough is enough of both him and when realising that GFC is not what it was meant to be. None of the current players are going to be the next Matt Le Tissier as if we ever find another one he will be found at the age of 10 to 17, or a little earlier or even a little later. GFC do not use players of this age and therefore GFC is not what it promoted itself to be,

Football over here is not very strong it is very poor and we do beat the old enemy regularly as we are able to use the GFC players at the moment. Once GFC players are paid in any guise they will no longer be able to play representative football.

I dont give a damn about the crowd size I really care about availability and participation of football for all and when I say all I mean not only 11 GFC players.

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As for the quality of the teams they are ok but not brilliant. I think thats fair but we have to progress through the leagues so it is was it is.

If people are chucking stats around as a judgement of success i would suggest your average Priaulx game attendance matches that of the average CCL game if you remove GFC and their army of ”fans”

P.s. I think there would be less hostility without articles such as Rob Batiste’s or 5 page spreads on GFC as it breeds anger from those 59,000 of us that only have a passing interest and like all sports (I’m a rugby fan)

If it is to be a community club is has to be less us and them

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Was Priaulx and the rest of the local game in a good state of affairs before GFC came along?

In my opinion, no. Crowds were dwindling and it seemed there were more and more one sided matches. The League was generally won by one of the big three and that does not look like changing anytime soon with Bels apparently running away with it this season. It would appear that they are a League of their own, we are in the middle of November and they have yet to drop a point. So when people start criticising CCL for not being competitive, you might want to look closer to home.

Something needed to change, whether GFC was the right way or not only time will tell. Clubs agreed to its inception so fair play to them for seeing that something had to change and for the backing they gave it and I believe many still do.

Young players were also leaving the game not long after they left Junior football. It was sad that the U21 Development League was kicked out. We have to accept that youngsters of today have so many more sports and activities that they can enjoy. Look at the advances that Cricket, Rugby and Athletics have made over the recent past with all the opportunities they now get, in compared to 30 years ago when Football was king.

I know so many kids that may have moved onto another sport or given it up all together but now are setting their goal as playing for their Island team in a UK League. Of course many of these may well not be good enough, but the hope surely is that they will stick to playing the game all of us on here love. Whether that be for GFC, a Priaulx side, Jackson football or for a Business League side. Just so wish that they could somehow be brought back into the fold. Some sort of linkup really does need to happen as other posters have suggested.

Football over here is still very strong, we seem to beat the old enemy regularly and I would say that there is much better support for football here than across the water. Just going by the crowds you see at inter-insular matches there and also when Jersey play in their cup competition that of course we did so well in a few years ago.
GFC is at the moment here to stay, I do believe that all involved in the local game need to work together to make us all stronger. Whether that be GFC, GFC or the many clubs. I have seen it from both sides, I spent over 20 years involved in a local club before falling out of love of the local game, because of falling standards and attitudes of certain players. GFC has brought be back to watching local football and enjoying it greatly.
GFC have put Guernsey on the map in football circles. The amount of media coverage has been great. I know many of you tire of it, but surely the hope is that some of this good feeling will come to the local clubs and they will benefit from it?

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I think you need to read my post a bit closer, I did not say “at any cost”

I assume like probably most of the anti GFC whingers on here, that you’ve never been to a game? If not it is an insult to the 1,000+ at every game. If you had bothered to go you would could meet some of the finest players ever to grace an island shirt in the crowd.

I am a Guernseyman to the core and feel it is great to have something to be very proud of. These players are a credit to Guernsey.

Far from ruining local football it will encourage far more into the game.

I can assure you that whilst I sponsor GFC in a small way I also sponsor other sports and will continue to do so. So “selfish” I don’t think so.

Support for youth football is to be encouraged, but what ultimately is the aim? to play for Bels, North, Rovers etc etc week in week out or to aim at a higher level like GFC where the level is far superior and will get better as they hopefully climb the leagues.

Go into the schools and talk to the kids about local football, they look up to local players, who I have to say are great role models for local kids.

I have nothing else to add as its obviously a contentious issue, none of us are ever going to agree. Personally I cannot wait for the next game!

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‘Is it worth giving a go at any cost?’ No in my opinion. When it does go T*ts up it will be too late as it will already have affected much more than the 1,000+ who are blindly singing their favourite, embarrasing GFC song. It will have paid for about 30 footballers to play against poor English sides and your 1,000+ to have a nice afternoon GFC spotting

It will also have exhausted any potential funding for youth football or opportunities for youngsters in any sport. It takes all of the media and therefore it takes all of the sponsorship away from any other club and any other sport. Look outside the GFC box and see what it is doing to much more than you 1,000+, see how selfish you are

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Whilst I have nothing at all against the Priaulx League, it seems a bit ironic you saying the CCL has one sided games when most of us could probably give the finishing order of the Priaulx league from 1-7 could you do the same for the 1-7 in the CCL……apologies the 1-22 in the CCL!

Looking at the Priaulx League Bels have played 7 and have a GD of 37, GFC have played 14 with a GD of 36! Say no more.

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

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Your earlier post quite clearly stated “the odd one sided game” and you continue to put forth that assertion, despite my post proving that it fundamentally isn’t accurate. You’re being very selective with what you’re arguing, much like the chief GFC reporter Rob Batiste.

Of course there are some experienced football people at GFC games, if you look closely you’ll see that I said “most” (meaning more than half) which is entirely correct.

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