Guernsey is undoubtedly a lovely place to call home. But fielding a football team in the English non-league pyramid from an island lying 70 miles off the coast of the UK and with a population of just 54,000 is no small task. Nevertheless, it’s a challenge that Guernsey FC took on when the club was founded in 2011, and 13 years later, they are still going strong.
Nic Legg, Guernsey FC director and communications manager, outlines the particular difficulties facing the club, which currently competes in the Isthmian South Central Division at step four of England’s non-league system.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Most significantly, Guernsey FC are obliged to pay the travel expenses of all visiting teams when they make the once-a-season trip over to the Channel Islands. Flying 28 people to Guernsey every other week isn’t cheap, with the cost coming in at north of £100,000 per season. Add to that the need to pay their own travel expenses for away matches on the mainland and the base cost of competing in an English league is substantial.
Guernsey’s size is a second challenge. With a population similar to that of Gravesend or Morecambe, and no potential to draw people from just outside the area (since the island is -obviously - surrounded by water), the talent pool from which to draw players is limited. Nic says:
“The team is 100% drawn from islanders at the moment. All but one of our
players were born and bred in Guernsey. You have to live here to play as
all the players are amateurs.”
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
However, Nic sees this as an opportunity as well, and one of the driving forces behind the club’s existence.
“The club is set up to provide the best opportunities for footballers in Guernsey to play at a much higher level. The limited talent pool is a challenge but also a positive. We have some players who, if they were in the UK they could play a couple of levels higher. So the water around us protects us in a way.”
Nic says that Guernsey’s geographical situation also generates a sense of pride amongst the players:
“We have a unique spirit because everyone who plays for Guernsey is representing their island. It’s an honour. It’s a privilege to be able to get on a plane every two weeks to visit new places and meet new people. It’s a platform.”
For a small island, Guernsey has produced its fair share of players who have gone on to star at higher levels. A prime example is Alex Scott, who became Guernsey FC’s youngest player when he debuted for them at the age of 16. He was spotted by Bristol City and now plays in the Premier League for Bournemouth. As Nic says:
“One of the reasons we were set up was to bridge the gap, to make it easier for people with ability to get spotted. You could argue that without Guernsey FC, Alex would not have got where he is.”
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
Another Guernsey native making a splash in the big leagues, this time in the women’s game, is Maya Le Tissier. The 22-year-old captains Manchester United and also plays for England. This despite the fact that there is currently no women’s league in Guernsey. That’s one reason that Guernsey FC have just set up a women’s team – the Green Lionesses.
Formed last year, the team plays in the Jersey league currently. Despite the additional financial burden of running a women’s team, Nic says that he and his fellow directors felt very strongly that the island’s girls deserved the same opportunities to play football as the boys. He says:
“It adds another element to our costs but it’s a challenge we need to rise to. We want to inspire the girls on the island. It’s right that they now have the opportunity to play for Guernsey FC.”
LOOKING AHEAD
In 2025, the women’s team will join the Guernsey FC men at a new £10 million stadium – Victoria Park. The facility will be shared with the Guernsey FA and, as Nic says:
“Hopefully at all age groups the aspiration will be to play for the local side, Guernsey FC, at the new stadium.”
Nic is quick to praise the all-important support the club has received from local businesses. Specsavers were the main sponsor for five seasons; the company was founded in Guernsey and is still headquartered on the island. Nic says that the founders are: “Passionate about sport and giving young people opportunities.”
Handpicked Hotels are the current main sponsors. Nic says that Julia Hands, who set the business up, didn’t just want to be a passive sponsor and she is now a Chair of Guernsey FC. Nic says:
"She’s the most wonderful, kind, genuine person who loves her football. Without her and (husband) Guy’s support the club wouldn’t exist today”.
Looking forward, it’s refreshing to find a club with a clear vision for the future. Nic says:
“Becoming sustainable is the goal rather than chasing endless promotions. Moving to the new stadium will help with that. We have a big challenge to stay in the league this season against big-budget teams. Staying up will be our promotion. If we’re pushing for the playoffs in three years’ time we’ll be pleased. We could probably go up one league but not beyond that without changing the model from being all local players to bringing people in from outside. That would change the whole ethos of the football club.”
GUERNSEY X KAPPA
Turning to Kappa, who have provided Guernsey’s teamwear for several years, Nic explains:
“We love the quality of the kit – it’s so much better than we had before. We’ve tried to produce some cool kits over the years, and we’ve been able to do that with Kappa – we don’t just have to go off-the-shelf. We’re able to afford that even though we’re not ordering thousands of shirts at a time. Being able to have our own design makes us feel like one of the big boys. When our fans and players wear the shirts it means a lot to them, so that quality is really important. As a football club we’ve always tried to punch above our weight, to be as professional as we can, and the Kappa kit is a very visible reflection of that. We’re very proud to be with Kappa.”
