No victimisation of Ormer – GFA CEO
GUERNSEY FA vehemently deny claims they are victimising Ormer FC junior players and, in the words of one local coach, creating a ‘truly toxic’ background that is detrimental to the mental and physical development of local players.
Chris Archer, one time Centre of Excellence head coach for both the GFA and then Bristol City FC on the island, said he has stepped away from the local football scene ‘due to the politics and ongoing petulant behaviour’.
Archer was responding to the issue of Ormer FC players being consigned to six-month ‘cooling-off periods’ or, as they see it, bans.
‘I am personally saddened that the grassroots game is manipulated in such a manner. This is truly toxic and detrimental to the mental and physical development of the children on Guernsey,’ he said.
‘I watch the matches to support the children and their families but have no more input with regards to coaching grassroots football,’ said Archer.
‘I hope that your [Inside Track] article has a seismic shift on how we approach children’s sport but more importantly, their human rights and mental health.
‘Without sport, the children on Guernsey are left with very few options,’ he added.
But GFA chief executive Gary Roberts has responded strongly, outlining their stance over Ormer (see full response in page 27) and querying Archer’s motives.
‘To clarify, no player has been, or will be, excluded from selection consideration for age group inter insular matches,’ he responded, adding: ‘Selection for the GFA Academy does not automatically ensure selection for representative squads participating in inter-insular matches.’
As for Archer, Roberts said: ‘He is clearly either uninformed or ill-informed.’
Inside Track page 26,
GFA responds page 27
