Have-a-go Bels to be applauded
THE national pyramid would suggest that Belgraves will lose to Moneyfields at the Track this afternoon.
THE national pyramid would suggest that Belgraves will lose to Moneyfields at the Track this afternoon.
After all, Moneyfields are close to the top of the Wessex League Premier Division and that league is two levels higher than our belovedly-titled Senior County Division One.
But don't be fooled by a chart.
Bels can win today and do so, well.
If Athletics, who have nowhere near the experience of Ian Champion's side and, it has to be said, not as much talent, can push Wessex League title challengers Bournemouth FC close, then there is every hope that the Guernsey side will go through today.
I wonder how often Moneyfields will come across a player as talented and who runs at their defenders as Dave Rihoy?
I bet it is not often, because the English game is so much different to ours.
That Bels are playing Moneyfields at all today should be applauded and it would be great if a Guernsey club side could go on a long UK cup run, the sort Vale Rec, at their peak, achieved.
Those cup runs brought added interest to the Guernsey footballing public and made Vale and their island players better, more committed, performers for it.
So it is Moneyfields today, but would it not be great for the game if every other week a UK side landed on our doorstep to play a competitive fixture.
I still say that if the money can be found, Guernsey football will improve markedly and so will the interest in it, by an island side playing on the UK ladder.
Just think if all the island's senior clubs pooled their resources and worked together as a unit, it could take the game forward with one huge stride.
But for now, well done Bels for having a go.
THERE will have been no more relieved man this week than Peter Head, race director of the Sportingbet Guernsey Marathon.
The event was a big success despite a few marshalling and marking glitches and given the sponsor's support surely it can only go from strength to strength.
For a brighter future, though, serious consideration must be given to attracting some 'name' runners to push the profile of the event.
Only then will our marathon get the widespread recognition such effort and backing deserves.
It does not have to be Paula Radcliffe or a top Kenyan, but someone who could challenge Tony Simmons' all-comers' Guernsey best of 2hr 22min. 6sec. would be a start.
Steve Dawes' wholly admirable winning time of 2-43-54 – a decent time considering he did not even train for it – was the 13th best time by a Guernseyman over the distance but never a new course record which the announcers were irritatingly claiming down at Foote's Lane last Sunday.
