Jersey through, but Alderney already out of Island Games football

Monday 05 September 2022

Jersey's footballers will be competing in next year's Natwest Island Games in Guernsey, but it was heartbreak for Alderney who saw their team miss out without kicking a ball, following this weekend's random draw of competitors.

Alderney was one of three islands unluckily drawn as reserve teams for the men's football competition after 19 islands applied for the 16 available places. This means they will not feature unless there are late withdrawals from any of the 16 selected islands.

The Western Isles, also known as the Outer Hebrides, and Hitra, an island off Norway, were also left as reserve islands when the draw was made in Guernsey on Saturday. 

The islands expected to be most competitive in the men's football competition - including Jersey, the Isle of Man and holders Ynys Mon, who beat Guernsey in the 2019 final - all survived Saturday's random draw and will feature in the group stages at the 2023 Games.

Pictured: this weekend's Island Games football draw.

Organisers said it was necessary to eliminate three islands by drawing lots because 16 is the maximum number of islands allowed in team sports at the Games.

"According to the International Island Games Association bylaws, the football competition shall be limited to no more than 16 teams and shall be played on a league basis in the first stage, with teams divided into groups of not more than four teams in each group," they said. 

"The reason there is a restriction on team sports to 16 is that with the six days of actual competition, it is only possible to run three games in the qualifying groups, have a rest day and then have the semis and final."

The Games will take place in Guernsey between 8 and 14 July next year. Guernsey will become the first island to host the Games three times, having previously done so in 1987 and 2003.

The draw for the men's football competition was supervised by Jurat Stephen Jones OBE.