The terrible price of playing for Guernsey - you have to live there

Saturday 28 March 2015

Jersey’s top footballer may have been on the verge of a move across to Guernsey FC – but the club say he’ll have to take a terrifying step if he wants a place in the team: actually moving to Guernsey.

Although Jersey reign supreme in rugby, the Guernsey FC side have had loads of success since they formed in 2011, and are currently mid-table in the Isthmian League Division One South.

This week has seen speculation that Jersey’s Jack Boyle (24), a former pro who played for Airdrie United in the 2012-2013 season, might be on the verge of an unthinkable transfer that would rival Luis Figo’s Barcelona-Real Madrid switch, or Sol Campbell’s decision to swap Tottenham for Arsenal.

But a statement from Guernsey FC’s manager Tony Vance said that if the move is going to work long-term, The Boy Boyle will have to move to Guernsey.

He said: "I have had many conversations with Jack over recent weeks and just to clarify and reiterate the club stance has not changed one bit. The day this football club changes its policy whereby we are meeting the playing squad at Gatwick airport is the day this project has failed and I walk away.

"For the record, on average - believe it or not - we receive an email every week from people wanting to play for GFC, and they are all told the same thing regarding the need to settle into our community.

"Of course, it goes without saying that irrespective of it being a work related/lifestyle change - or in fact in this case a simple desire to play for GFC - there are not many people who are either in the position to or will have the confidence to simply move to Guernsey without testing the water so to speak.

"This is effectively what Jack is going to do in the interim to see how things go and then hopefully his head will be turned and he will look to relocate/settle into the community.

"I have spoken to Jack about this, and whilst I am happy to offer him the opportunity and carrot to dip his toe in the water and train with us, selection will be made on merit. To put it simply, I am sure Jack will realise very quickly that to gain selection ahead of the lads who have bought into this 100% may require a decision to be made on relocating.

"Financially, funding will not be used from GFC to help pay his travel for training as we simply do not have the capacity to do that. If there was spare finds available, there are many areas that come before something like this in my opinion and I am sure the board will share the same views."