Jersey Bulls: a year from hell
Bulls won every game, but ended up lower than they started
The year 2020 will be remembered as an odd one for every football club – but few have had it odder than Jersey Bulls.
The islanders joined the English non- league pyramid for the first time last term – entering Combined Counties League Division One, just like Guernsey FC had done in 2011.
They won 27 of 27 fixtures, scoring 99 goals and conceding seven, having welcomed a crowd of more than 1,000 to their season opener in England’s 10th tier.
Their 27th victory – over British Airways FC, who are based near Heathrow and jetted into Jersey for the match – sealed promotion as early as March 9, with 11 games still to play.
“Promotion was always the first aim for us, and we were on a journey,” Bulls boss Gary Freeman tells FFT. “We knew we’d be strong, but didn’t expect to win every game.”
When coronavirus halted football a week later, though, everything changed. Within a fortnight, the FA decided to null and void the league, cancelling Jersey’s promotion.
“They made the decision so quickly – they could have been patient and thought about points per game,” sighs Freeman. Jersey’s points per game wouldn’t have been hard to work out. “I was gutted for everyone at the club – not just the players. It’s been a four or five- year process, and we had momentum.” Instead, Jersey had to return to Division One and try to win promotion again – this time, in harder circumstances. “This season we’ve lost a lot of players who can’t travel,” explains the gaffer. “Some work in schools and can’t leave the island, and others work in offices so wouldn’t be able to go back for five days. “Our own government in Jersey haven’t allowed any teams in for sport, so we’ve played every game away.” Ahead of November’s lockdown, Jersey had only played four league games – they won them all, but sat 11th with up to eight games in hand on sides above them. It remains unclear whether they will be able to complete their fixtures. Guernsey FC pulled out of the Isthmian League this season due to travel restrictions, and FC Isle of Man have put their North West Counties League bow on hold. Jersey’s plan to catch up could involve three games in three days on trips to the mainland. “We might have to take a big squad,” says Freeman. “But that third game will be tough. There’s no guarantees the league will finish anyway – we could end up in the same league for a third season. It’s been really frustrating.”