The Isle of Wight will only be represented by the women’s team in this year’s football tournament at the 2025 Orkney Island Games.
The men’s team – which have a proud Island Games record, taking gold in 1995 and 2011 – will sadly not be representing the Isle of Wight this year. Accommodation issues have limited the number of teams competing, and our representatives were unlucky in the draw as to which teams were to take part.
The women’s side have competed 8 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.
At the 2023 Guernsey Island Games, the Isle of Wight women finished 8th, going down to 3 defeats – 0-5 against the Isle of Man and 2-3 against Menorca – before being beaten 2-3 by Hitra in the 7th-place match.
The football competition is in a mini-league round-robin format, with the top team from each group progressing to the semi-finals. All other teams will play a ‘placing game’ after the groups.
This year, the Isle of Wight have been placed in a 4-team group, together with Shetland, Bermuda and Jersey. Shetland have only competed in 1 previous Island Games, coming 6th in 2005 when they were the hosts. Jersey have a formidable record, with 3 Island Games bronze medals (2001, 2003 and 2017) and took gold in 2015 as the host island. Bermuda, however, are the group’s strongest side, with golds in 2013 (as hosts) and 2023 and bronze medals in 2005 and 2017.
Isle of Wight women face the Western Isles at 12:00 on Sunday (13th July), Bermuda on Monday (14th July) and Jersey on Tuesday (15th July). The semi finals are scheduled for Thursday (17th July) at 12:00, with the final taking place at 12:00 on Friday (18th July).
The Isle of Wight Women’s side:
Defenders and goalkeeper: Georgia Scholes, Jazz Bavington, Emma Webb, Peggy Stagg, Holly Stephan, Tilly Yardley, Sammie Mumford, Katie Rand, Erin Sharp
Midfielders: Rowan Treagus, Millie Tinsley, Thea Broadhead, Phoebe Connor, Jess Green, Matilda Brown, Dani Melninkaite, Laura Huish
Forwards: Sienna Brennen, Kira Smith
