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Swiss cricket grandad recalls 1966 visit

A SWITZERLAND supporting grandparent, in the island for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup – Europe Division 2 Qualifier, has good cause to remember a previous trip to Guernsey

Swiss fans enjoying the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier fixture between their country and Belgium at the Memorial Field yesterday. Left to right, Stephen Rathbone, who last visited Guernsey in 1966, Daniele Eosshard, Dylan Eosshard, 12, Roman Eosshard and Brigitta Rathbone, were all supporting 17-year-old Fynn. 										 	 (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 34858256)
Swiss fans enjoying the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier fixture between their country and Belgium at the Memorial Field yesterday. Left to right, Stephen Rathbone, who last visited Guernsey in 1966, Daniele Eosshard, Dylan Eosshard, 12, Roman Eosshard and Brigitta Rathbone, were all supporting 17-year-old Fynn. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 34858256) / Guernsey Press

Stephen Rathbone was last in the island 60 years ago almost to the day. He remembered it well – ‘I watched the World Cup final with my family at Le Chene Hotel,’ he said – while watching 17-year-old grandson Fynn Eosshard take a catch in the outfield of the Memorial Field against Belgium.

‘And the hotel’s still there. I was also pleased to return to Petit Bot, though it’s much smaller than I remember.

‘We travel around the world for cricket,’ he added. ‘I used to play, and now my grandsons do.

‘We’ve done tours around Denmark, Dubai, Copenhagen and England. But Guernsey, its facilities, and the way it’s been organised, has been brilliant.

‘We’re very happy to be here – I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to come back.’

Guernsey has hosted a week of cricket involving teams from Sweden, the Isle of Man, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France.

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