Jersey Bulls aim to take English football league by the horns

Friday 21 September 2018

Springfield could become the home ground for a new island football team shooting for success in the English national league.

Launched today by founder, former Muratti player and Les Quennevais PE teacher Russell Le Feuvre, Jersey Bulls FC aims to nurture the skills of local elite players while developing young talent.

While their official home ground is yet to be decided, the club are said to be in “advanced discussions” to use Springfield Stadium, which has a seated capacity of nearly 1,000 people and allows a further 7,000 to watch from the surrounding landscaped park.

The team, which is said to be backed by local sportspeople, politicians and businessmen, now have the goal of joining the Jersey and English FA.

They then hope to be able to enter Combined Counties League One - the tenth rung on the English league ladder, which Guernsey FC joined in 2011 - and work their way up from there.

“Jersey Bulls FC is a name that celebrates Jersey’s dairy heritage and focuses our desire to make this a community club, one that will make Jersey proud. Volunteers will be central to running the club for the benefit of all islanders and we will encourage our players to be active in the community, whilst also providing opportunities for schoolchildren to be involved in the excitement of our family friendly match days,” Mr Le Feuvre said. 

Kits have already been designed, further celebrating Jersey’s iconic cow with a large bull adorning their red shorts. The top will be white with a large red cross, resembling the island’s flag. 

The independent and locally-owned team are still searching for sponsors, however, but are said to be “in talks” with some potentials. 

Players will be able to play for both Jersey Bulls FC and another Jersey league team, allowing them to continue playing in their local club if they haven’t been selected or when there is no Jersey Bulls FC match on.

Senator Steve Pallett, Assistant Minister with responsibility for sport, said he “wholeheartedly” supported the idea, adding: “This proposal… would provide a programme of regular matches that senior players have been in need of for many years and also give developing young talent a new opportunity outside of the Muratti and Island Games fixtures which remain highlights of our current sporting calendar.” 

Describing the idea as “exciting”, JFA CEO Jean-Luc Desbois said that Jersey Bulls FC had “generally been welcomed by most clubs and players.”

“As the governing body of Jersey Football, we will continue to work with Jersey Bulls FC and other stakeholders in a balanced way to ensure the process of affiliation is managed professionally,” he pledged.