Guernsey football withdraws from 2025 Island Games

Friday 15 November 2024

Guernsey will not send any football teams to compete in the Orkney Island Games due to accommodation concerns – but Jersey has confirmed the island is still "committed" to taking part.

Both the men's and women’s team were due to travel to the Scottish island next July.

However, travel, accommodation and safeguarding concerns have caused the GFA to pull out of the international tournament.

"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 earlier this week and agreed that player experience had to be the priority when considering our participation in the competition.

"They 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."

The GFA has informed the Guernsey Island Games Association of its decision and has also advised the players.

Both of Jersey's men's and women's teams "remain committed" to playing in the tournament next summer, Tim Pryor, CEO of Jersey's Football Association today confirmed.

He added that he would not like to comment on "another island's situation".

A draw has already taken place to decide which islands could compete in the football section in Orkney because of the limitations.

Orkney 2025 happens between 12 and 18 July.