Manager James Scott said the team were ‘very much looking forward’ to Sunday’s curtain opener for Parishes of Jersey FC versus YIFA (Yorkshire International Football Association).
The game, being hosted at St Peter’s FC at 3:30pm, will be the first time Jersey football fans will witness first hand the side’s inclusion into CONIFA.
When I spoke to Scott, he said ‘There has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes leading up to this game. We are hoping it will be a great occasion and a great game too.’
I asked him about his squad selection, and how he decided who would be the first players to pull on the Parishes Of Jersey Shirt. Scott replied ‘I have been out watching a number of local games ahead of selecting my squad. Obviously, we are a new team so in that respect all the players are new, as is the coaching staff, but there are a couple of lads involved that haven’t been included in a senior side before.’
On his surprise selection of former Jersey FA captain, Luke Watson, he said ‘It’s a big decision to get him back in as he hasn’t been playing much recently. However he is a player with great experience and will undoubtedly lift others playing alongside him. It is also good to have young Thomas Harris, aged 17, in the squad as he is showing all the attributes of being a talented player of the future.’
This is also an exciting game for YIFA, with it being only their second away fixture, after their formation last year. On this weekends opponents, Scott stated ‘We know nothing about Yorkshire. In that respect we will be concentrating on ourselves, but we are expecting a very challenging game. I hope the lads step up and are looking forward to this challenge.’
It’s a very exciting time for Jersey football, and the game is set to be a great occasion for the island. Scott ended our chat by saying ‘We are Jersey’s newest football team and all of us are looking forward to our inaugural international football match.’
His message to the islanders was loud and clear, too. He said ‘We are representing the people of Jersey so we are hoping for a good crowd to come up and watch this historic occasion within local football. Hopefully it will be an occasion that will live long in the memory for everyone that is lucky enough to be involved.’
Head to St Peter FC this weekend for a 3:30pm kick off, to see how it all unfolds and bear witness to what is set to be an historic event in the Jersey football community.
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