Jersey Bulls boss Elliot Powell has picked up the VITA Risk Solutions Manager of the Month award for January, after guiding his side through an unbeaten start to the new year in the Isthmian South East Division.
The Bulls enjoyed a strong opening to 2026, taking three wins and one draw from their January fixtures, a run that has lifted them into sixth place in their first-ever season at Step Four – just one spot outside the play-off places and well ahead of many pre-season expectations.
At just 27 years old, Powell is one of the youngest managers in the division and this is the first time he has received the monthly accolade. It is another landmark moment in a rapid rise that has seen the Jersey-born coach led the Bulls to Step Four of the English football pyramid.
Unsurprisingly, captain James Querée was quick to praise his manager, insisting the award was fully deserved.
“It’s brilliant for him to be recognised,” Querée said. “His first reaction will probably be to give all the credit to the lads, but it’s worth stopping for a moment and appreciating just how lucky Jersey are to have someone of his calibre leading the club.
“People sometimes forget how young he actually is because of how he carries himself. You’d think he’d been doing this for years. What he’s achieved with the Bulls, both on and off the pitch, says a lot about him and the staff he’s put around him.”
Querée also believes Powell’s success could open doors well beyond the Island.
“I’m absolutely made up for him and the lads will be too. None of this surprises us – he’s talented, ambitious and has the results back that up,” he added. “I genuinely see this as a stepping stone for him. The club was set up to give players a platform in the UK, but managers too – and Powelly could be the first of those.”
Powell’s calm approach, clear ideas and relentless work ethic have earned the respect of a dressing room packed with experienced heads, many of whom are older than their manager.
That authority has translated into results, with the Bulls consistently punching above their weight against established English sides.
The manager’s assuredness carries from his interviews onto the pitch, where players perform with total belief, willing to run through a brick wall for their orchestrator.
With momentum building and the play-offs firmly within reach, January’s award feels less like a surprise and more like recognition of a project continuing to gather pace. For Powell, it may just be the start of something even bigger.