Late losses so tough on a fine side

THEY lost the cup, but there are times when you can win without having trophies to show for it. Guernsey's much-vaunted junior island team have undergone an end-of-season transformation on the pitch. A season that promised so much ended with four straight defeats, culminating in Saturday's 1-0 Junior Muratti reverse.

But rarely can a group of players have conducted themselves so impressively and represented their island in such a dutiful and admirable manner.

I have spent many days and weekends travelling away with Tony Vance's squad over the past couple of seasons; not once have they let themselves down.

This junior island squad, like all of its predecessors, was drawn from diverse social and educational backgrounds: from Elizabeth College senior prefect and Oxbridge candidate Danny Good to shy secondary school educated youngsters who have only a couple GCSE passes to their name.

They moulded together well. There were no cliques, no tension, no personality clashes.

Captain Good personified the squad spirit.

A loquacious, perceptive, assertive young lad, Good was proud to skipper the under-18s for two years and he led them in exemplary fashion. The other players respected his maturity without being jealous of him.

I have enjoyed immensely the many hours spent covering their trips to Jersey and the UK and will miss the company of those who graduate into senior football next season.

But the camaraderie will live on. Vance and his assistant, Steve Ogier, and GFA chief executive Dave Dorey, all of whom have worked so hard to instil a core of discipline and pride among their charges, will ensure that standards don't drop.

Of course, none of that really mattered at the moment last Saturday afternoon at Springfield when Jersey captain Luc Le Miere lifted the Junior Muratti above his head.

But in analysing the achievements of this young set of players - and don't forget that, despite a poor run, Guernsey reached the last eight of the FA County Youth Cup this season - one must look beyond last weekend's cruel defeat.

Guernsey football has a bright future.