CFE keen to introduce a competitive side to game

THE College of Further Education is eyeing up next year's Channel Islands School League. 'We put a team together this year,' said senior lecturer in sport studies Jeff Stuart.

'It's pretty much made up of sport development and fitness students, with one or two others.

'We haven't entered a team into the CI league this year but we want to go in next year and also into the British College Sport-organised tournament as well.

'The view is to enter other sports as well. We've got some excellent sportsmen and women and we want to give them an outlet.'

Built on the back of the national diploma and first certificate in sport that began at the college last year, the football team came about with the arrival of sport lecturer Mike Reed at the beginning of this term.

It features sport students such as Sylvans occasional first-team striker Danny Watts, Nick Coleman, Simon Le Pelley, Gary Dodd and Aaron Walden.

But undoubtedly their biggest player is Priaulx star Ben Coulter. The midfielder was man of the match in Bels' resounding Upton victory over St Peter in the spring and was named the 2005-6 youth players' player of the year.

So it is no surprise that they took all three friendly matches with Elizabeth College sides. Up against the Year 11s side first, they won 11-0 before going on to defeat the Second XI 2-0.

Despite injuries picked up during the match by Coulter, playing in the centre of defence, and by his centre half partner, Matt Aldcroft, the CFE side went on to defeat the college's First XI a couple of days later without the pair. Two goals from Coleman and a penalty by Le Pelley gave them a 3-0 victory.

They are now hoping to take on Grammar.

The outfit would certainly not look out of place in the CI league.

Their equivalent in Jersey, Highlands, is already involved and a match with them is being lined up for early next year.

The only question mark concerns their discipline on the pitch.

In the past there have been problems, but Stuart believes that would not be the case if they were given the chance to play competitive matches.

'This happened before I was around,' he said.

'There has been a reluctance to play against us.

'In the past the fixtures were organised by students but now we take the view that it will be organised and run by members of staff and if our players don't buy into behaving, then they don't play.

'In the three games that we've played, there have been no bookings, no sending offs or any issues.

'They've been played on a friendly basis.'