NOW IT’S OUR BIG CHANCE TO SHINE
THE Muratti Vase returns after a two-year absence on Saturday – and hosts Alderney are dreaming of ending their more than 100-year wait for a victory.
The competition is steeped in Channel Island history with the keenly contested annual event between Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey an annual event since 1905.
The only final success for Alderney was way back in 1920, the final was held in Jersey, and Alderney were victors beating Guernsey 1-0. J. Lihou scored the game’s only goal in front of 4,500 spectators.
They came close in 2017 when they lost the semi-final 2-1 to Jersey and a year later Alderney, who compete in Guernsey’s Priaulx League and pushed Guernsey close before losing 2-0.
They take on Guernsey – managed by the Isthmian League Lions boss Tony Vance and assistant Colin Fallaize – again this year and are dreaming big.
Coach Josh Concanen, who used to play for Tiverton Town, said: “We are very optimistic as always. We play – or have played – against the players representing Guernsey in the league week in week out. Generally, I think we’ve
played better on the bigger occasions, so I expect the team to be right out the traps from the first whistle.”
Belief
The whole island will be behind the boys in blue on the day with the shops on Victoria Street shops out in Blue and white. Even knitted post box covers will be displayed thanks to a group of local knitters. The Island’s railway will also be running a ‘football special’ departing Braye station from 12.20 onwards alighting at the small platform adjacent to the football ground.
The club, who have Lord Ian Botham as president and patron, are also busy fundraising for a clubhouse extension which they hope will help the future youth on the island. Funds will provide two adult changing rooms, a junior changing room and another for officials or other juniors. It will provide storage so they can keep their ride-on mower dry in winter.
The club are selling scratch cards to help raise money for the extension and getting that elusive win would be even more of a boost.
Club captain Ross Benfield said: “The most memorable Muratti semi-final for me in recent times was the 2-1 loss to Jersey. Equalising in the last minute and then conceding again in injury time was gutting for everyone involved but it has given us a lot of belief that we can win one of these games.”
The game kicks off at 1.30pm on Saturday, April 23 and will be streamed live on Facebook. Admission with a programme is £5 for adults and £1 for kids.
The club also have replica and polo shirts from the previous season available at only £16 including VAT and postage to the UK plus a Muratti pin badge for £5 commemorating the 1920 victory.
For more information, contact club secretary at leesanders@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.alderneyfootball.co.uk