Historic cup is no Stranger to progress
EVEN in its 115th year as a Guernsey Football Association competition, the Stranger Cup is providing fresh impetus to a season.
And this time around the prestigious silverware has new backing with Ross Gower Group sponsoring the tournament that kicks off next month.
Once again played in a group-stage format, this season’s Stranger Cup will be played over the first three weekends of February, with all group fixtures played on the KGV 3G pitch. Matches will be played on Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The opening game will see Guernsey U18s face up against Vale Rec on Friday 5 February.
Three group winners and the best-placed runner-up will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played in March, with the final scheduled for the evening of Tuesday 30 March.
‘The GFA very much welcomes the support of Ross Gower for this competition,’ said GFA chief executive Gary Robert.
‘The Stranger Cup has a defined place in the Priaulx season and with the involvement of the Island Under-18s always makes for a cup which teams very much want to win.’
Gareth Burchell, director at Ross Gower, added: ‘As a company with deep local roots dating back more than 70 years, Ross Gower is delighted to be able to associate ourselves with such a well-established and historic cup competition as the Stranger Cup,’
‘The group stages of the competition in February will provide a focus for senior football and we look forward to seeing good crowds at the KGV for what should be a very hard-fought competition.’
The Stranger Charity Cup was first played for as a Guernsey FA competition in season 1905-06, when it was shared by Belgrave Wanderers and Northerners.
The cup was originally played for solely by teams from Northerners, having been donated by club president William Stranger, a prosperous stone merchant who dedicated much of his life to Guernsey football.
North left the Guernsey FA for a season in the early years of the 20th century but, on their return, donated the cup for a GFA competition. The Stranger Charity Cup became the foremost senior cup competition for Guernsey teams.
GROUPS FOR 2020-21
Group One: Vale Rec, Guernsey U18s, Belgrave Wanderers.
Group Two: St Martin’s, Northerners, Rangers.
Group Three: Rovers, Sylvans, Manzur.
