Guernsey FA has been shortlisted for a Facility Development award at the County FA Recognition Awards 2025, for its new home – Victoria Park.
The nomination looks to highlight the significance of the Victoria Park project, which took a decade to plan, and just two years to complete.
According to organisers, the awards aim to acknowledge outstanding work in grassroots football, across a variety of categories.
The ‘new home of Guernsey football’
Victoria Park is the Guernsey FA’s first permanent home in more than 130 years.
It is a 3G stadium and community hub that was designed to be a “lasting legacy” and a catalyst for growth in the local game.
Since its opening in March 2025, the facility has already helped the Guernsey FA achieve several strategic objectives. This has included increasing football participation, especially among women and girls, supporting local clubs, and developing opportunities for underrepresented groups.
The project has also created new career opportunities for passionate members of the community, who care about the sport and it’s impact.
The Guernsey FA CEO, Gary Roberts said the nomination is proof of their successes so far.
“To be a finalist in the County FA recognition Awards is great news for the Guernsey FA, and more recognition for the Victoria Park project,” he said.
“The project to build Guernsey’s new ‘Home of Football’, and the opening in March of this year, was the culmination of many years of planning and perseverance.”
Mr Roberts added: “Now, not only marks a huge chapter in the island’s football history but also, provides an unrivalled opportunity to develop the game at all levels, and effect positive change.”
He continued: “Victoria Park, with its 3G stadia pitch, and ancillary facilities, is the first permanent home of the Guernsey FA in over 130 years. This fantastic facility is now the community hub that Guernsey FA is using to drive the game forward, introducing new opportunities, addressing identified needs, sourcing new investment into the game, and continuing to serve the game and wider island community.”
Mr Roberts concluded: “The facility has also been the catalyst to support new career opportunities with additional employees added to the workforce. The future for football in the island is exciting, and all at the Guernsey FA are looking forward to ensuring Victoria Park is utilised to achieve our strategic objectives.”
The County FA Recognition Awards 2025
The Guernsey FA was shortlisted amongst five other national finalists in the Facility Development category.
The other finalists are Birmingham FA, Kent FA, Devon FA and Northumberland FA, with the winner to be announced at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 6 November.
The English FA’s Head of Operations for Grassroots Football, Tim Foster congratulated all those shortlisted.
“Congratulations to all of the County FAs shortlisted for this year’s County FA Recognition Awards. These awards celebrate the outstanding work taking place across the country to strengthen and grow grassroots football so it continues to thrive in the future.”
Mr Foster continued: “Each shortlisted project showcases true innovation and impact, and we are proud to recognise their achievements and celebrate the vital contribution our County FAs make to the game.”
The stats since moving from Footes Lane
Since the move to Victoria Park, both Guernsey FA and Guernsey FC have hosted matches at the new home of Guernsey football.
The Guernsey’s FC men’s team has played six matches at the new stadium – four league, one friendly, and one FA Cup match.
Their overall win rate is 50% with three wins, two draws, and a solitary loss. That includes a friendly, with the win rate dropping to 40% when taking into consideration competitive matches exclusively.
In those seven games, the Green Lions have scored 12 goals, and conceded 9.
The men’s biggest victory at Victoria Park was a 5-3 win in a friendly against Larkfield and New Hythe.
Guernsey FC’s Lionesses have made their home at Victoria Park too, with unbelievable stats to back up their on pitch performances so far.
The women’s team has played four matches at Victoria Park including three competitive matches from last season’s victorious campaign in Jersey’s league. They’ve also made their English league debut.
The GFC ladies’ have had a win rate of 75% so far with three wins and one draw.
The Lionesses have scored a monumental 28 goals, whilst conceding just six, with a goal difference of +22 since making the move from the Lane to the Park.
Their biggest win at the new ground was an emphatic 11-0 victory over Sports Club of Jersey, and in their debut English league match at Victoria Park, they won 7-5 against Wimborne Town.
The GFA sides have had successes at Victoria Park too.
The island men’s side secured the Muratti Vase earlier this year for the first time in eight years, with a win at the new stadium. The result was a 3 – 1 win, with the talismanic Ross Allen bagging a brace.
The women’s final ended in a 2 – 1 victory for Guernsey, as they retained the bragging rights, and the trophy, for another year.
Combined all Guernsey sides have played 11 matches, bringing home seven wins, just three tied games, and a solitary loss.
40 goals have been scored, whilst shipping just 14.