Guernsey Football Teams Withdraw from 2025 Island Games

Guernsey’s football teams have announced their withdrawal from the 2025 Island Games, which are scheduled to be held in Orkney. This decision follows the Guernsey men’s team’s fifth-place finish at the previous Island Games, where they did not advance past their group while competing on home soil. The island, which served as the 2023 hosts and whose men’s team has accumulated the second-highest number of gold medals in football at the event, stated that they have been unable to secure appropriate travel and accommodation for the upcoming competition. Concerns regarding Orkney 2025 have already been raised by Channel Island athletes across various sports, with the high cost of travel and a scarcity of hotel rooms being primary issues. It has been noted that some participants in next July’s event will be housed in temporary dormitories in schools, self-catering accommodation, and hostels. Guernsey Football Association chief executive Gary Roberts explained, “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.” Roberts further elaborated, “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.” Prior to their withdrawal, Guernsey’s men’s team had been drawn into the same group as their Channel Island rivals, Jersey, marking the first such occurrence in 28 years. It remains unconfirmed whether another island will fill Guernsey’s place; a draw was necessary to determine participants due to more men’s teams applying than the 12 available places. Historically, Guernsey’s men’s team has secured three football gold medals, a record surpassed only by Jersey. The best performance for Guernsey’s women’s team was fourth place in 2003 on home ground, while they finished 10th last year. Roberts concluded, “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. 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.”