Villa and Rangers add to record entry

TWO more professional clubs have been added to the line-up for the award-winning Guernsey Mini Soccer Festival.

Aston Villa and Glasgow Rangers will be appearing for the first time in the seventh and largest annual festival to date, which is being staged at Foote's Lane on the weekend of 19-20 July.

Awarded the Sports Commission's sports event of the year in 2006, a record number of players, around 280, are expected for the 2008 competition, which boasts 20 teams, also a record number.

Heading the entry are Everton, who have won twice, including last year.

Arsenal are also set to return and there is a maiden appearance from Corinthian Casuals, arguably the most famous amateur club in world football.

The Casuals are renowned for promoting the virtues of fair play and sportsmanship which is prevalent in the Guernsey event for boys and girls of 10 years and under.

Other UK entries include Finedon Victoria from Northamptonshire, who will be playing for the fifth time, and Braunton Wanderers from Devon, who have been here once before.

The bulk of the entry consist of sides from around the Channel Islands.

'It's grown again,' said a delighted festival organiser Steve Dewsnip.

'One of the ever-present problems in local sport is to be able to offer our local youngsters the opportunity to improve their skills by playing against opposition of a potentially higher level and from outside Guernsey.'

Arsenal coach Carl Laraman is delighted to be returning with his group of young Gunners.

'We very much enjoyed the tournament last year.

'It was a very positive experience for the players. Playing against slightly older players means that we have to move the ball more quickly which suits our style of play.'

Only time will tell whether any of the young Gunners will emulate current Arsenal hero Cesc Fabregas, but the Guernsey festival has played a part in the development of three players who, in their mid-teenage years, have already gone on to gain international honours.

Everton's Ged Kinsella played in the inaugural event and has played for Ireland under-16s.

That same year the Everton side also included Billy Knott, who was on trial with the Merseyside club, and has since moved to Chelsea and played for England under-16s.

A third player from the 2002 festival, Jose Baxter, has already captained the England under-15s to success in the Sky Sports televised Victory Shield home international tournament and in recent months has become a regular in the Everton's under-18 academy side.