The Isle of Wight men’s football team will be travelling to Guernsey hoping to take gold for the 1st time since 2011, when the games were held on the Isle of Wight.
16 islands are competing in the men’s tournament in 4 groups of 4 teams. The winners of each group go on to the semi-finals.
The Isle of Wight are the 3rd most successful Island Games football team, taking the gold medal in 1995 and 2011, and bronze in 1997 and 1999. However, this time round, the Isle of Wight men’s football team have been drawn in the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’ along with Guernsey, the Western Isles and Åland.
The Isle of Wight’s most formidable group opponents are host Island Guernsey: 3 times winners of the competition in 2001, 2003 and 2015. They are the most successful Island in the history of the competition. The most memorable game between the Isle of Wight and Guernsey was at St George’s Park in the final of the tournament in 2011, which the Isle of Wight won 4-2 after extra time.
The Isle of Wight’s other group opponents are Aland from Finland (bronze medallists in 1989 and 1993) and the Scottish Western Isles (bronze medallists in 2005 and 2007).
The local side travel to Guernsey with a squad of 20, including 9 from Cowes Sports, 5 from Newport and 6 from mainland clubs. 2 players have survived from the 2011 gold-winning Island Games team: John McKie and Ryan Woodford.
The football tournament begins on Sunday 9th July with the final being held on Friday 14th July. On Monday (9th July), the Isle of Wight face Åland, kick off 10:30. The following day (Monday, 10th July), we play the Western Isles at 14:30. Finally – on Tuesday 11th July – comes the big one, with the Isle of Wight taking on host island and favourites Guernsey.
If the Isle of Wight wins their group, their semi final will be played on Thursday 13th July.
Isle of Wight squad below:
Adam Biss (Chichester City)
Jordan Browne (Newport)
Joe Butcher (Newport)
George Colsen (Cowes Sports)
Joe Craig (Newport)
Joe Hancock (Cowes Sports)
Ed Hatt (Cowes Sports) GK
Ryan Hughes (Lymington Town)
Connor Kelly (Cowes Sports)
Nathan Lewis (Reynes Park) (Vice Captain)
John Mckie (Cowes Sports)
Jimmy Mumford (Eastleigh)
Ryan Oatley (Cowes Sports) (Captain)
Finn Phillips (Cowes Sports)
Leon Pitman (Newport) GK
Jake Scrimshaw (Eastleigh)
Liam Triggs (Cowes Sports)
Josh Wakefield (Salisbury City)
Olly West (Cowes Sports)
Josh Younie (Newport)
The Men’s team is manged by Tom McInnes – a gold medallist in 2011 – and coached by the Newport management team of Steve Brougham and Andy ‘Pud’ North.
The Isle of Wight women’s side has been drawn in a 3-team group against the Isle of Man and Menorca.
The Isle of Wight women’s side have competed 7 times in the Island Games, but have yet to achieve a podium place. The closest our Island has come to gaining a medal was in 2009 and 2017 when we reached the semi-finals. However, on both occasions our women’s side were beaten in the 3rd place play offs: by the Isle of Man in 2009 and Jersey in 2017.
On Monday 10th July, the Isle of Wight women face the Isle of Man at 10:30; the following day (Tuesday 11th July), they come up against Menorca with a 14:30 start.
The Isle of Man are the 6th most successful women’s football side in the Island Games, having won 2 silvers and a bronze. Menorca’s best and only finish came in 2015 when they were bronze medallists.
Isle of Wight women’s squad below:
Kirren Shaw
Tilly Yardley
Emma Webb
Georgia Dye
Jasmine Bavington
Carmen Simonds
Katie Barron
Sammie Mumford
Peggy Stagg
Phoebe Connor
Chloe Parkes
Rosina Knowles
Mia Richardson
Ceri Kilcullen
Thea Broadhead
Sienna Brennen
Sophie Jackson
Gemma Woodford
Faith Wagstaff
The women’s team are managed by Rich Mumford and coached by Shannon Kilcullen and Katy Ednay.
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