Island boss opts for youthful first squad

TEENAGERS Ollie McKenzie and Sam Cochrane have been included in Steve Ogier's first squad of the season. They are two of four uncapped newcomers in the 16 with Bels' Darragh Duffy and James McColl of Vale Rec also receiving call-ups from the island manager and there are returns for Darren Martin, Michael Wilson, Tristram Morgan and the Nobes brothers.

The squad is for the Malaya Cup match a week on Saturday and the first South-West Counties Championship fixture of the season against Dorset seven days later.

'The Malaya Cup is a warm up game for Dorset and so this is the strongest squad of who is available,' said Ogier of his group that has an average age of under 24.

'I am not putting youngsters in for the sake of putting them in. I have picked players on their merits, whether they are young or old.'

Belgrave Cochrane has been knocking on the senior island door for some time, but this is the first season where McKenzie has been a regular in North's Priaulx side.

The Guernsey manager was full of praise for how the 18-year-old has handled himself thus far when he revealed the reasons behind his selections.

'He is playing very well at left-back for North. I have been watching him and he is not fazed at all by playing in senior football,' Ogier said.

'He is naturally left sided, likewise James McColl and Ollie can play left-back or left-midfield. McColl looks to me more an out-and-out left-back although he has played as a wing-back for Rec at times.

'Darragh Duffy is a skilful player, he is good on the ball and he suits what we are going to try and do with the team this season.'

Now back playing regularly after a variety of reasons ranging from injuries to suspension, Ogier had no qualms in recalling three of Guernsey football's big guns.

'John Nobes has got that presence you need at the heart of the defence.

Wilson is perhaps the surprise choice. Not because of his ability - Ogier readily admits that he is one of the few very good centre backs in Guernsey - but because of his lack of commitment to the island squad last season.

'I am not carrying things over. He was left out last year because he did not turn up for training.

'The ball is firmly in his court now and we will see where it goes from there,' Ogier said.

The Guernsey Football Association has also released provisional men's and women's squads for next summer's NatWest Island Games in Shetland but there are liable to be several changes before the final 20 for each are announced, GFA secretary Matt Fallaize said.