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Local sporting stars have come together in a campaign backing the island’s bid for UEFA membership and to show that they are proud to #PlayForTheJersey, ahead of a vital vote taking place on Monday.
Jersey’s application for UEFA membership will be heard and taken to a 55-member vote on Monday, 26 February, at the annual UEFA Congress in Bratislava.
Jersey FA President Phil Austin and CEO Neville Davidson will travel to the Slovakian capital, with Mr Austin presenting the Jersey FA’s case to the audience and emphasizing the transformational impact it would have on football on the island.
Ahead of this presentation, some of Jersey’s sporting stars, sponsors and stakeholders – past, present and future – have come together to send a powerful message from the island to the rest of Europe: "let us play."
Jersey Sport CEO Catriona McAllister, Jersey Cricket Board CEO Chris Minty, local footballers Sophie Botterill and Tom Murray, Jersey Football Combination President Charlie Browne, Jersey FA Disability Officer Paul Greenwood, representatives from the national team’s main sponsor Jacksons, Jersey FA Senior Manager Martin Cassidy and Jersey FA U21 players Daniel Birrell and Harry Curtis have all posed with the famous red home top to show their support for the bid.
Jersey FA President Phil Austin said: “The Jersey FA has committed vast time, energy and emotion into our bid for UEFA membership and Monday’s Congress in Bratislava will be the most important chapter in this journey to date.
“For us to travel with the backing of so many people and organisations who share our passion for sport on the island is truly heartening and again underlines that the impact of membership would be felt far wider than just football; it would benefit the island as a whole. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported not just this latest #PlayForTheJerpsey campaign but our overall application and bid – it really is appreciated.”
Pictured: Jersey Football Association CEO, Neville Davidson.
Neville Davidson, Jersey Football Association CEO, said the island has "strong foundations" in place to support its bid and that the UEFA membership would provide the platform "to develop and expand football on the island.”
For Martin Cassidy, Jersey FA Senior Manager, the UEFA membership will transform Jersey football for the better. "We have a good structure and some very talented young players coming through our system and I strongly believe with our best local players, players playing in the English leagues as well as in the USA, that we have the talent to complete against other minnow nations.”
Catriona McAllister, Jersey Sport CEO, sent her best wishes to the JFA, adding: "We’ve seen what a huge boost international recognition has given other sports in Jersey and UEFA membership would surely give young local footballers even further inspiration to go on and represent their island. It would bring with it investment in facilities and local clubs, and actually raise the profile of all sports in Jersey.”
Chris Minty, Jersey Cricket Board CEO, is also hoping the bid will be successful. He explained that Jersey's Cricket membership of the International Cricket Council has been hugely beneficial: "Hosting international tournaments has resulted in thousands of bed nights and visitors to the Island. In addition, Jersey teams have had the opportunity to travel to some amazing places to play – such as Tanzania, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, America and South Africa as well as some European countries and putting Jersey on the map. We support the JFA’s application to join UEFA and if successful hope they can enjoy similar benefits."
Lead picture: Harry Curtis and Danny Birrell.
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