JERSEY BULLS FC X KAPPA
The Jersey Bulls Football Club, who have just signed a further three-year kit deal with Kappa, must be one of the most unusual clubs in the English football pyramid. Formed just five years ago, the Bulls played their first competitive match in 2019 but then ran straight into the Covid storm, with two successive seasons cut short by the pandemic.
And as the first club from Jersey to play in the English football structure they also faced unique geographic challenges. Not only does every away game require a flight to the mainland, but a condition of being accepted into the Combined Counties League was that they would pay for all their opponents to fly to Jersey for the Bulls’ home games.
But the Bulls are nothing if not resilient and have made quite an impact already. They were finally moved up to the Combined Counties Premier League South in 2021 after being denied promotion by those two “null and void” Covid seasons. In the subsequent three seasons they have finished fourth, third and second respectively, falling agonisingly short of another promotion via the playoffs.
SUCCESSFUL SEASONS
The club have also proved themselves to be cup specialists. A Third Qualifying Round appearance in the FA Cup in 2021- shown live on the BBC - was followed by reaching the FA Vase Fifth Round Proper in the following two seasons.
Given the big splash that the Bulls have made, was there a risk of ruffling the feathers of the other well-established Jersey clubs when they arrived? General Manager, Lauren Trachy acknowledges that:
“There was a bit of hesitation when we were first formed. But arguably it has made the local league stronger. Before the Bulls, one or two teams dominated whereas now, it opens the way for other teams to be more competitive and it gives more opportunity for some of the younger players to play.”
COMMITMENT & AMBITION
The Bulls’ commitment to developing local talent goes a long way to explaining how well they have slotted into Jersey’s football structure. For one thing, almost all the club’s players were born and bred on the island. Lauren adds:
THE COMMUNITY
BRING ON THE SEASON
Looking forward to the coming campaign, Lauren says that promotion very much remains the goal:
"We’ve been so close for multiple years – hopefully in the next season we can kick on.”
One potential hiccup was the end-of-season departure of the manager who had been with the Bulls from the beginning. While the loss of Gary Freeman was undoubtedly a blow, a very capable young replacement has been found in the shape of 26-year-old Elliot Powell. With a strong management track record at club level and as boss of the Jersey FA team, the Bulls are clearly in good hands.
Speaking about the relationship with Kappa, Lauren says that:
“We’ve been with Kappa from the beginning. Obviously, it’s a big brand, but on top of that, we find everyone there to be very helpful. You need people you can speak to, ask questions and get answers.”
We’ll be eagerly watching Jersey Bulls’ progress next season and are very proud to have the club as part of the ‘Kappa family’.
