Guernsey withdraw from football events at next year’s Island Games

The 2025 competitions are accommodating a dozen teams apiece and were over-subscribed so places were allocated by ballot. Guernsey were the last out of the hat for both.

Subsequently, the men were drawn in Group B along with Jersey, Gozo and Shetland, while the women were due to play Orkney, Gozo and Froya in Group A of their event.

However, in a surprise twist yesterday, the Guernsey Football Association revealed that the ‘difficult decision’ had been made to pull out of the Games, mainly blaming accommodation issues.

‘Despite the considerable efforts of both the GFA and Guernsey Island Games Association, we have been unable to confirm suitable arrangements for travel and accommodation which meets players expectations as well as our safeguarding requirements as we will be travelling with a number of under-18s alongside adult players,’ said GFA chief executive Gary Roberts.

‘We appreciate that Orkney has very limited hotel accommodation and that the organising committee has been doing everything possible to increase capacity by setting up temporary accommodation in school buildings. Unfortunately, the accommodation we have been allocated does not allow us to meet our responsibilities when travelling with two teams of mixed ages. As a minimum, we would need to take additional safeguarding chaperones which are not included within our competitor allocations.'

The GFA board discussed the situation this week and decided that 'player experience' was the priority.

'The board concluded that a combination of the type of accommodation being provided, the inability to meet the GFA’s safeguarding parameters for the trip, and the mixed ages of those likely to be included in both the men’s and women’s squads, has made Guernsey’s participation unviable.

‘We know this will come as a huge disappointment to the players but the GFA will be actively looking for alternative opportunities for off-island competition during 2025.’

Kirsty Talbot, games director of Orkney 2025, admitted that it was ‘disappointing’ both Guernsey’s male and female football teams have pulled out, but still hope to have a full complement of 12 in each competition when the Games kick off in July.

‘As with previous Games, when a football team pulled out a reserve team were given the opportunity to take part. We have therefore communicated with the reserves and have offered a space to them,’ she said.

‘Football is set to play a huge part in the Orkney 2025 Games and the participating teams will make up a quarter of the overall number of people involved across all 12 sports.

‘We are pleased to be able to extend an opportunity to other islands to take part in what promises to be a very exciting competition.’

The Orkney 2025 Island Games will take place from 12-18 July.

‘It is a shame, but I can see the reasoning,’ said Guernsey Island Games Association chairman Jon Marley of the news.

‘Obviously, we’re disappointed. It would have been great to have had both teams with us.’