One big goal for women's football team

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Jersey Women’s Football Team has one big goal this year - to retain the Gold medal they won for the first time in July 2015.

The ladies are now busy fundraising to get to the Natwest Island Games in Gotland with plans for the first ever ‘Women in Sport’ event with special guest Sam Quek, Olympic Gold Medallist and star of this year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’

The team is looking strong after 2016 which saw more records being broken by the team. In the annual Murratti fixture against bitter rivals Guernsey, the Reds posted a record victory scoreline of 9-0. Not only the highest winning margin in any Muratti, but the youngest ever Muratti goal-scorer, Natasha Keen, netted at the age of just 16.

Coach Jimmy Kelly said: "Natasha Keen is just one of a number of high quality youngsters making their name in the women’s game on Jersey. Another great example of this new generation of young players is goalkeeper Sara Luce who kept a clean sheet in the Muratti and is now Jersey’s number one keeper heading into the 2017 Island Games.

"The focus of 2017 is on one objective; to retain the Gold medal the girls won for the first time in July 2015. During those hot summer days, the women captured the hearts of all Jersey sports fans with a highly entertaining approach to each game and a thrilling 1-0 victory in the final over an Aland side who had been unbeaten in the previous 10 years.

"The trip to Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, in June  2017 to defend the Gold medal, will be the culmination of two years of hard work for the squad and coaching staff.

Jersey Manager Simon Petulla said: “Everyone has worked so hard on this project. Victory in 2015 was an incredible achievement. To retain the title is our only focus now. We have the squad do it, no doubt. Our coaching set-up is also second to none."

In the lead up to the 2017 Island Games, the team are busy fund raising with lots of community activity in the calendar from bag-packing in supermarkets to sponsored runs and bikes rides. 

The highlight of the fund-raising calendar will undoubtedly be the marque ‘Women in Sport’ event, taking place on 4 March at the Royal Yacht Hotel with guest speaker, Sam Quek, Olympic Gold Medallist and star of this year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ 

Team Captain Eve Watson said: “We’re so excited to be holding the first ever ‘Women in Sport’  event in Jersey this year – the interest we’ve had in it in just the first few days since the announcement has been unbelievable."

Jimmy Kelly said: "2017 promises to be another hugely successful year for the Jersey Women’s Football Team and with the high levels of energy both on and off the pitch, who would bet against them?"