Guernsey looks at European options

GUERNSEY Hockey is going to look into gaining international status by joining the European Hockey Federation. During inquiries by the Guernsey Press, the federation said they would welcome an application.

The move could one day see international matches played at Foote's Lane.

Guernsey Hockey chief executive Andy Roberts said that the board of directors would discuss the matter at their meeting next month.

'It looks interesting - I'm pleased that you looked into it,' said Roberts.

'It's a goal, for sure. We want to be playing at as high a level as we can.

'We are looking at other things and we're still looking at creating a Channel Islands league as well.'

At present, there is a lack of opportunities for the island's best men, women and juniors to play at a higher level.

The senior men take part in the national knockout cup, the HA Trophy.

However, if they are knocked out in an early round in October or November, their next competitive match is against Jersey in the inter-insular, which is at the end of the season.

The island's under-15s and veterans also take part in the HA Trophy for their age groups.

The women are not so lucky because the only regular competitive match they play in is the inter-insular.

Both teams are involved in a biennial four-islands event, but that is seen as more of a social event than a serious competition.

The island's best players across the ages can also been involved in CI representative teams to play in the county championships.

Roberts said that they will have to check whether joining the Federation would disqualify them from county and English Hockey Association competitions.

'I would imagine that it wouldn't allow us to play at a club level in the UK,' he said.

If Guernsey were to join the federation, they would enter at the bottom in the Challenge II division and face countries such as Gibraltar, Serbia, Lithunia, Bulgaria and Greece.

There is the EuroHockey National Championships every two years and regular Champions League competitions for the top clubs from the countries involved in Challenge II.

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There are also women's national championships and junior championships at under-21, U-18, U-16 and U-14 levels.

Membership opens doors for friendlies with other Federation countries, too.

The administration officer for the federation, Siobhan Madeley, yesterday said that they would have open arms.

'Obviously it's important to expand hockey in Europe and we're always able to have new members,' she said from the federation's headquarters in Dublin.

'We've got some very small countries with 600 players to big ones with 600,000. Everyone is welcome.

'We'd be delighted to have a look at Guernsey's application.'