Guernsey F.C.

This article is about the football club competing in the Isthmian League Division One South, level 8 of the English football pyramid. For the representative team of Guernsey, see Guernsey official football team. For the rugby club, see Guernsey RFC.
Guernsey
Full name Guernsey Football Club
Nickname(s) The Green Lions
Founded 2011
Ground Footes Lane, Saint Peter Port
Capacity 5,000 (720 Seated)
Chairman Steve Dewsnip
Manager Tony Vance
League Isthmian League Division One South
2014–15 Isthmian League Division One South, 10th
Website Club home page

Guernsey F.C. is a community football club located in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. The club was formed in 2011 and became a member of the Combined Counties Football League Division One for the 2011–12 season. The proposal to establish the club and join the league was developed by the Guernsey Football Association in an attempt to offer the island’s senior elite players the opportunity to progress further and test themselves in the English non-league pyramid system.

History

Background

The FNB Priaulx League, currently operated by the Guernsey Football Association, has been the top level of football on Guernsey since 1893.[1][2] In addition, a Guernsey team has competed in the annual Muratti trophy against fellow Channel Islands sides since 1905[3] and at the Island Games since 1991.

In 2010, the league's representative team won the FA National League System Cup and, as a result, qualified to represent England in the 2011 UEFA Regions Cup.[4] This was the catalyst which inspired the creation of an island team to compete in the National League System[5] and in June 2011 the Combined Counties Football League accepted Guernsey FC into its Combined Counties Football League Division One.[6] Level 10 in the English football league system. This makes Guernsey the first team from the Channel Islands to compete in mainland British football, and the club will be funding the cost of both its own and other teams' travel to and from the island.[7]

Matthew Le Tissier was the club's President until his resignation in August 2014,[8] whilst his brother Mark is the club's Football Secretary.[7]

2011–12

Guernsey F.C. played their first game on 16 July 2011, a pre-season friendly against AFC Wimbledon, who joined the Combined Counties League in 2002, and were promoted to the Football League in the 2010–11 season. The game ended in a 6–5 win for AFC Wimbledon.[9] They won their first league game of the season 5–0 on 6 August 2011 at home to Knaphill,[10] before drawing 2–2 in their first away league game at Hartley Wintney[11] on 9 August 2011. Sky Sports came to Footes Lane to film Guernsey v Feltham FC 2–0 on 12 November 2011. Guernsey won nine consecutive home games in all competitions at the start of the 2011–12 season, before suffering their first home defeat on the 21 January 2012 losing 3–2 to Eversley.[12] The club beat Bedfont Sports 7–1 on 24 March 2012 to win the Combined Counties Division One at the first attempt and gain promotion.[13] League results: 2011–12 Combined Counties Football League.

On 30 March the club also reached the final of the Premier Cup, beating Guildford City 4–2 after extra time.[14] They went on to beat Colliers Wood United in the final after extra time 2–0.[15]

2012–13

Guernsey (in green) playing Walsall Wood in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase

Guernsey started their second League campaign in August when they played Croydon with an 8–0 win in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division after securing promotion in the previous season.[13] They also entered the FA Vase for the first time.[16] Sky Sports returned to Footes Lane to film the Semi final first leg against Spennymoor Town F.C. on 23 March 2013. To get the pitch playable, a novel way to dry the pitch was tried, using a helicopter,[17] copying an idea tried in Melbourne, Australia, 50 years earlier.[18]

With 27 games postponed in the season due to Cup matches and the terrible winter weather, Guernsey were scheduled to play 17 games in April 2013,[19] 23 games in 43 days.[20] the last 4 matches of the season in 4 days. League results: 2012–13 Combined Counties Football League. Finishing the season in style, Guernsey FC earned promotion for the second season in succession.[21]

2013–14

Guernsey FC's entry into the FA Cup competition is confirmed,[22] with certain conditions, including strict financial obligations, which have been alleviated with the 60Saviours campaign, whereby 60 individuals or groups pledge to support each game in the FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions.[23] Their first ever FA Cup tie saw them beat Crawley Down Gatwick away in the preliminary qualifying round, but were knocked out in the second qualifying round by Skrill Conference South side Dover Athletic, losing 3–2. Although Guernsey FC were originally drawn at home, the match was played at Lancing FC, the headquarters of the Sussex Football Association.

With promotion, Guernsey FC competes in the 2013–14 Isthmian League Division One South, with 46 league matches in the season,[24] coming 4th in the league and reaching the playoffs for promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division but losing out to Leatherhead F.C. 3–2.

2014–15

Playing in the 2014–15 Isthmian League Division One South for the second year. Five friendly games were played before the start of the season. GFC lost its FA cup preliminary round match against Worthing F.C. 2–0 but in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy won 4–0 against Barton Rovers FC before crashing out of the competition in the next round. In the league, the season has seen some disappointing results including a record 8–0 loss against Merstham F.C., reaching the season's half way mark with only 7 wins in 23 games. A marked improvement in the number of wins from mid December coincided with the clubs 500th competitive goal on 17 January resulting in the next 7 wins in just 10 games. Guernsey's 8-1 September win over Three Bridges F.C. proving to be the highest scoring match in the league during the year, Guernsey F.C. finishing the season safe, in the 2nd quartile.

Guernsey have now played 197 matches since their formation, winning 122, drawing 28 and losing 47. They have scored 529 goals, conceding 281. The Green Lions have been victorious in 103 league games, drawing 26 and losing 39. They have scored 454 times (Matt Loaring got the 450th against Worthing) and shipped 237.

Stadium

Footes Lane
Full name Footes Lane
Location Saint Peter Port, Guernsey
Capacity 5,000 (720 Seated)
Record attendance 4,290 v Spennymoor Town F.C. 23 March 2013
Surface Grass
Construction
Expanded 2002

The team plays its home games at Footes Lane, a 5,000 capacity multi-use sports facility in St Peter Port, Guernsey. The stadium is also used as an athletics track, by the Guernsey Rugby Club and was a venue for the 2003 Island Games.

Current squad

For the 2011–12 season, the team was composed of players from the seven senior teams of the Guernsey Football Association (GFA). The first player officially signed was the Guernsey national side's captain, Sam Cochrane. Following this, all twenty members of Guernsey's 2011 Island Games squad which earned a silver medal were signed. The club currently operates a squad rotation policy, allowing the players to represent their respective GFA league clubs when called upon. Channel Islander-born players are eligible to play for any of the Home Nations. Former England international footballer and then GFC President Matthew Le Tissier signed up as a player for the 2012–13 season, with his first and only appearance on 24 April 2013.[25]

Squad as of January 2015:[26]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
England GK Chris Tardif (vc)
England GK Tom Creed
England GK Leroi Riley
Poland GK Jacob Machlowski
England DF Joe Alvarez
England DF Sam Cochrane (c)
England DF Jamie Dodd
England DF Simon Geall
England DF Jacques Isabelle
England DF Thomas Strawbridge
England DF Jason Winch
England DF Nick Trebert
England DF Alex Le Prevost
England DF Tom Martin
England DF Miles Pengelley
Northern Ireland MF Ryan-Zico Black
England MF Angus MacKay
England MF Scott Bougourd
England MF Tom de la Mare
No. Position Player
England MF Etienne Le Prevost
England MF Seb Skillen
England MF Kieran Mahon
England MF Liam Mahon
New Zealand MF Rhys Jordan
England MF Glyn Dyer
England MF Matt Loaring
England MF Josh Steel
England FW Craig Young
England FW Dominic Heaume
England FW Ross Allen
England FW Dave Rihoy
England FW Nigel Hutton
England FW Marc McGrath
England FW Paris Pereira
England FW Kyle Smith
England FW Danny Hale
England FW Luke Winch

Non-playing staff

The team is coached by Tony Vance, who also coached the Guernsey national football team until he resigned in December 2011,[27] and is assisted by Colin Fallaize and Steve Sharman. The club’s head physiotherapist is Mike Thomas who is assisted by his son Dan Thomas and the consultant club doctor is Richard Weiler.

The club chairman is Steve Dewsnip and club secretary is Mark Le Tissier, brother of former England international footballer Matthew Le Tissier. The club’s patron is Sir Geoffrey Rowland, the ex-Bailiff of Guernsey.

End of season awards

2014 2013 2012
  • Coaches' Player of the Season – Chris Tardif and Ross Allen
  • Players' Player of the Season – Chris Tardif
  • Supporters' Player of the Season – Ross Allen
  • Young Player of the Year – Matt Loaring
  • Outstanding Achievement Award – Mike and Dawn Thomas
  • Coaches' Player of the Season – Jamie Dodd
  • Players' Player of the Season – Jamie Dodd
  • Supporters' Player of the Season – Jamie Dodd
  • Outstanding Achievement Award – Nic Legg
  • Goal of the Season – Ryan-Zico Black
  • Golden Boot – Ross Allen – 53 goals
  • Players' Player of the Season – Dominic Heaume
  • Supporters' Player of the Season – Ryan-Zico Black
  • Managers' Player of the Season – Sam Cochrane

Honours

League Honours

Cup Honours

Records

League Results

Season Level League Played Won Drawn Lost Goals For Goals Against Goal Diff. Points Final Position
2011–12
10

Combined Counties Football League Division 1
34
31
1
2
138
22
+116
94

1st promoted

2012–13
9

Combined Counties Football League Premier Division
42
30
6
6
131
56
+75
96

2nd promoted

2013–14
8

Isthmian League Division One South
46
23
12
11
93
65
+28
81
4th
2014–15
8

Isthmian League Division One South
46
19
7
20
92
94
-2
64
10th

Cup performance timeline

Tournament 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12
FA Cup PR 2RQ A A
FA Trophy 1RQ 1RQ A A
FA Vase A A SF [36] A
Combined Counties Premier Challenge Cup A A 3R W [30]
Combined Counties Division 1 Challenge Cup A A A QF

(A Absent, PR Preliminary Round, 1RQ 1st Round Qualifying, 3R 3rd Round, Q Quarter Final, S Semi Final, F Final, W Won)

Players who have turned professional

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Guernsey football leagues to revert to former names". BBC Sport. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Past Winners of the Priaulx League". Guernsey FA. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Muratti Vase". rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Guernsey triumphant". The Football Association. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Club History and Who We Are". Guernsey F.C. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Guernsey FC gets green light to play English teams". BBC Sport. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Guernsey FC is massive undertaking, says director". BBC Sport. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Matt Le Tissier steps down as Guernsey FC president". BBC News. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Guernsey FC are edged out by AFC Wimbledon in thriller". BBC Sport. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Combined Counties League: Guernsey FC 5–0 Knaphill FC". BBC Sport.
  11. ↑ "Guernsey FC draw 2–2 at Hartley Wintney". BBC News. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Guernsey FC lose their first home game 3–2 to Eversley". BBC News. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Guernsey FC secure Combined Counties Division One title". BBC Sport. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Guernsey FC 4, Guildford City 2 (aet)". This is Guernsey. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  15. ↑ Guernsey Press (7 May 2012). "‘Dom’-inating Green Lions finally get just rewards". www.thisisguernsy.com. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  16. ↑ Guernsey Press (29 February 2012). "FA Vase offers Wembley ‘carrot’". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  17. ↑ Channel TV (23 March 2013). "Is this the Green Lions biggest fan?". Channel TV online. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  18. ↑ British Pathe (1963). "Helicopter Dries Football Pitch 1963". British Pathe. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  19. ↑ BBC.co.uk (15 March 2013). "Guernsey FC to play 17 games in April as fixtures pile up". www.thisisguernsey.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  20. ↑ Neil Ashton (20 March 2013). "Rafa and Fergie should stop moaning about fixture pile-ups... Guernsey FC play 23 games in 43 days!". Mail online. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  21. ↑ BBC.co.uk (6 May 2013). "Guernsey FC: Fourth win in four days earns promotion". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  22. ↑ Guernsey Press (30 April 2013). "Lions in FA Cup". www.thisisguernsy.com. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  23. ↑ BBC Sport (24 June 2013). "Guernsey FC go ahead with FA Cup plans after appeal for help". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Guernsey FC: A success story". channelonline.tv. Channel Television. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  25. ↑ Mailonline (24 April 2013). "Le Tissier makes Guernsey debut as legend returns to playing days... but 44-year-old can't can't stop them losing 4–2". wwMailonline. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "The Team: Our Squad". Guernsey FC. Retrieved August 2014.
  27. ↑ BBC Sport (30 December 2011). "Tony Vance resigns as Guernsey manager". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  28. ↑ "Guernsey FC's 54 goal striker...". BBc Sport. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  29. ↑ "HONOURS LIST 2011–2012". Combined Counties Football league. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Over Land and Sea | putajumperon". Putajumperon.wordpress.com. 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Guernsey FC 11, Crawley Down Gatwick 0". This is Guernsey. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Merstham inflict record defeat on Guernsey FC". This is Guernsey.com. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Guernsey beat Rye United 6–5 in FA Vase fourth round". This is Guernsey. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Croydon 4, Guernsey FC 7". This is Guernsey. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  35. ↑ "Video – Green Lions find Wembley road blocked". This is Guernsey.com. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 2 Apr 2013.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Spennymoor Town set for Wembley". The FA.com. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2 Apr 2013.

Coordinates: 49°27′53″N 2°33′46″W / 49.464624°N 2.562906°W

External links