Hamon back for Games as Vance confirms 20-man squad

The former Green Lions goalkeeper, who left the island to become a professional with Exeter City and this season played a key role in Truro City earning promotion to the National League, is the surprise name in the 20-strong group announced by Tony Vance with 50 days to go until the Games begin.

‘Firstly, it’s disappointing and frustrating for Jason [Martin] who, at the end of the day, has done nothing wrong. Josh [Addison] has tended to be No 1 and played in the Muratti, so Jason has been waiting for his opportunity,’ the Island manager said.

‘But when James suggested he wanted to be involved, the level of experience he has and the levels he is playing at in the UK, and the big thing when James mentioned it to me was that he wanted to commit pretty much full-on in terms of getting over here and training with the guys, it probably was almost a no-brainer really.

• Podcast: Hear more from Tony Vance on a special show marking 50 days to go until the Games, as well as interviews with members of Guernsey's table tennis, tennis, and sailing squads

‘Perhaps in a ridiculous way, with the rules of the Island Games you could have Alex Scott playing for Guernsey, you can have Ben Acey play, Joe Adams – the pros could all be available. Obviously they’ve got different circumstances, but we would have considered them for sure.

‘While we want to be predominantly locally-based in terms of “these are our players”, James is playing at significantly higher levels and I think he can bring the group on and we need it in all honesty.

‘It’s good to have him, but the main thing for me is that he is going to integrate with the group and train with us and that’s so important.’

As well as goalkeeper Martin, the others to miss out from the long training squad are River Marsh, Seb Vance, Tom Martin and Glenn Le Tissier, but Vance revealed they will remain on standby and are ‘still going to be pushing the group’.

Guernsey men’s football squad

James Hamon, Josh Addison, Dave Merris, Jacob Fallaize, Jamie Dodd, Joe Alvarez, Keanu Marsh, Tom Vaudin, Kieran Mahon, Liam Mahon, Tom Dodds, Brandon Wallace, Charlton Gauvain, Danny Hale, Dave Rihoy, Keene Domaille, Matt Loaring, Ross Allen, Sam Murray, Will Fazakerley.