Something a bit different now for our Non-Fifa International Series, today we are going to be talking about an entire tournament not just a single ‘nation’.
Being held between the 15th and 22nd of June in Anglesey, Wales It is being organised due to the hosts of the 2019 Island Games, Gibraltar being unable to run a tournament due to lack of pitches. As football is one of the most popular sports at the games it was decided to hold the matches elsewhere, albeit with the results not officially part of the Island Games history.
It was announced on 1 May 2018 that the Welsh island had been chosen as the preferred venue to host. In August of that year 12 clubs put forward their names to hold matches and the draw for both the men’s and women’s competitions were made on 19 November by Wayne Hennessey and Osian Roberts. The sponsors of the games were Anglesey based Huws Gray builders merchants.
The Round-Robin tournament is going to be host of mens and women football from many island such as Alderney, Orkney, Jersey, The Shetlands and many more. All of these teams are Non-Fifa or UEFA Affiliated, with the exception of the Gibralter Women’s team who despite their football association being members of UEFA and FIFA, havent appeared in any of their competitions therefore qualifying to play at the Island Games.
Although this tournament will not be recognized as an official ‘Island Games’, the hosts of it Anglesey are set to host the full competition in 2025, meaning this is a great opportunity for a trial run for the island. Its also hoped that hosting these competitions will spark the re-emergence of an Anglesey Academy side and create many more positives for Ynys Mon’s footballers.
The Isle of Man are the reigning Island Games men’s football champions after they beat Greenland 6-0 in last year’s final in Gotland, however as this tournament isnt allowed in the history books, they will remain champions going into the tournament in Guernsey in 2021.
Everyone here at ‘Climbing The Ladder’ would just like to wish everyone all the best for the tournament and we will see you in Anglesey.
