Vikings depart KGV heading for Footes Lane

After many months of conjecture the club today announced it has entered into an agreement with Guernsey Raiders for the club to move to the Raiders’ Footes Lane base on a permanent basis.

It is a move that paves the way for more football to be played at the multi-purpose ground and utilise the firmer surface closest to the car park which had been used by Vikings.

St Jacques have been playing their home rugby primarily out of the KGV Playing Fields since the early 1990s and enjoyed a strong relationship with the management committee at the facility. In recent years, the relationship between St Jacques and the Raiders has grown significantly, with the Vikings now forming part of the Guernsey Rugby Development Pathway, as the men’s development team to the Raiders.

Whilst St Jacques have enjoyed playing at the KGV and enjoyed some of their greatest successes at the venue, given the ongoing Covid-19 situation, in conjunction with all its stakeholders, the KGV carried out a review of the use of its sports facilities to ensure they are available for as many sports as possible whilst securing the immediate and longer-term future of the KGV.

During these discussions between the parties, it was clear that there is little prospect of the Vikings playing any Shield league games in the immediate future and so Vikings will be limited to playing local games with the Raiders.

With the Vikings looking to reduce costs and the KGV looking to maintain use and income from its grass pitches, St Jacques have agreed to partner with the Raiders to share its facilities at Footes Lane, which will free up the grass pitch at KGV.

KGV director Jonathan Creasey commented on the decision for the club to move to Footes Lane.

‘The KGV would like to thank St Jacques for all their support and contribution to the KGV over the last 30 years. They have contributed to many great memories and were instrumental in many of the developments at the facility over the years.

‘Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on Island sports that play their games in the UK and at the same time has increased participation locally. All clubs and facilities are under pressure to cut costs or maintain an income. This move benefits the Vikings in saving costs and allows the KGV to maintain its income stream in meeting that increased local demand.’

St Jacques RFC chairman Ian Hackeson thanks KGV for all their support and for providing fantastic facilities over the last 30 years.

‘Guernsey is very lucky to have two primary sporting facilities such as Footes Lane and the KGV on the island, and whilst in some ways it is a shame the club is moving venue as we have such history at the KGV, this move will support the KGV but also is the start of an exciting new period in the history of our club.

‘The partnership we have enjoyed with the Raiders for the past few years has shown how well both clubs can work together, and we are excited by this opportunity for that partnership to continue to develop and to be able to utilise the excellent facilities at Footes Lane.’

Hackeson said part of the plan was to deliver an excellent match-day experience for members and supporters, hopefully next season at Footes Lane.

‘Our first season in The Shield provided us some of our toughest ever tests, and the development of the side was clear to see across the season. We look forward to continuing that hard work as soon as we able to and hopefully take the club to new heights.’

The agreement with the Raiders will see St Jacques remain as a separate club as they have always been, but the two clubs will continue to share certain resources and the Vikings will continue to act as the Raiders development side.

Andrea Harris, Raiders’ joint-chair said it was ‘a great opportunity for both clubs to continue the synergies they have enjoyed in the past few years and is a fantastic chance to strengthen the rugby development pathway, and depth of rugby on the island’.