Star Trophy squad heading to the UK ahead of Jersey clash
Guernsey’s Star Trophy preparations will take in two trips to the UK as the Island under-15s look to make up for lost time.
Head coach Darren Sylvester reported that training and the local games programme has suffered major disruption, with all five matches cancelled, but the group have managed three inter-squad games that have been supplemented with players from the academy and the shadow squad – a concept introduced at the start of the season to ensure some of the fringe players retain their links to the squad and as a mechanism for the coaches to monitor their progress.
However, it is the upcoming off-island fixtures against Corinthian-Casuals, Bristol City and Woking on two separate trips that will really provide the squad with the invaluable competitive action they need ahead of facing Jersey at Springfield on 21 April.
‘One of the first things we said at the start of the season was about our commitment to get the guys away, to challenge them in the UK,’ said Sylvester.
‘One of the reasons I said that was actually then I couldn’t renege on it, so we had to make it happen. We’ve done that through fundraising and thanks to NSM and BTS, two of our sponsors, that’s enabled us to get to the UK.’
The U15s will be ‘buddying up’ with Guernsey FC on 9 March when both sides will face their Corinthian-Casuals counterparts.
The juniors will than have a double-header against Bristol City and Woking on 5-6 April.
‘We’ve got a nice blend there,’ Sylvester said.
‘Each game will offer a different challenge. We don’t know what the games against Corinthian-Casuals and Woking will throw up, but we know Bristol City will be technically excellent.
‘It’s going to be a real challenge for them to go away and and play against players they’ve never seen before and to quickly work out their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. They’re really looking forward to it.’
As part of the fundraising effort, there are currently raffle tickets on sale with the top prize being two tickets to England’s match with Belgium on 26 March with travel included.
Other prizes include two tickets to England against Brazil as well as prizes donated by local businesses.
There is also a fund-raising 80s disco next Saturday, with ticket information on the KGV Facebook and Instagram feeds.
A sleeve sponsor opportunity is available, too, for anyone interested in helping the team.
More information is available from Darren Sylvester via email on dlnsgsy@gmail.com. Raffle tickets are available to purchase here.
Guernsey U15 squad
Alfie Torode, Aston Young, Byron Wakefield, Dylan Graham, Elden Roberts, Freddie Ford, Jack Sylvester, Jake Martin, Louis Allen, Matt Jackson, Regan Penney, Reuben Woollaston, Riley Tyrrell, Sam Bookless, Seb Mourant, Theo Cooper, Theo Le Tissier, Wilf Dorrian.
