Guernsey Football Club has become a frequent theme this season, and we’ve been keeping a close eye on their progress as they embark upon their first season. They’re playing in England, competing against teams from south-eastern England in Division One of the Combined Counties League, the tenth tier of the nation’s football pyramid. The Green Lions have made a blistering start, winning five and drawing one of their six league matches in August, and winning their first in September.
Three of those matches have been at Guernsey’s home ground, Footes Lane, and the average attendance across those three games comes in at around 1,500. After the two home friendlies saw an average of just over 1,050 through the turnstiles, the enormous increase is a real source of encouragement for GFC officials. Supporters are, as expected, embracing this team beyond the novelty of playing English sides.
That attitude will only be amplified by the early success of Tony Vance’s side on the pitch; in fact, the local press reported at the end of August that a third of the 720-seat Garenne stand will soon be filled by season ticket holders, a phenomenal number for a Step Six side. The Green Lions ended August at the top of the division with 16 points, ahead of Bedfont Sports by virtue of the fact that their goal difference was twice as good, and they haven’t yet let up as we move through September. Goals continue to follow Guernsey as they acclimatise to English football, a development portended by the 21 goals generated by the side’s three pre-season friendlies against AFC Wimbledon, Bristol City’s developmental side and Horley Town.
If you love goals, the man to watch has been Ross Allen. The 24-year-old marksman has been in explosive form in the Combined Counties, leading Guernsey’s charge to the top. He started superbly, scoring a hat-trick as GFC hit the ground running with a 5-0 win over Knaphill at Footes Lane. Glyn Dyer and Dominic Heaume were the other men on the scoresheet on 6th August, an historical day for Guernsey football and its new flagship club.
The team’s only dropped points to date came on the road in their first away game against Hartley Wintney. Allen (on as a 60th minute substitute) scored both of Guernsey’s goals in front of 240 people but they succumbed to a last minute equaliser, a fate that even the side’s most staunch defender would have difficulty in blaming on the fact that the Green Lions had to play in Hartley’s blue and white away strip after a fellow passenger accidentally picked up their kit bag at baggage reclaim. The perils of Project Guernsey.
Ever since then it’s been plain sailing - or rather plain flying. On 13th August Guernsey returned to Footes Lane and beat Warlingham 3-0 with goals from Dyer and Angus Mackay, and then secured their first away win a week later by beating Eversley 2-1. Allen was on the scoresheet once more, alongside Matt Loaring. In the week that followed, GFC signed veteran North goalkeeper Paul de Garis to play in place of Chris Tardif for a Bank Holiday awayday double-header and chairman Steve Dewsnip spoke of his delight at the positive response to the club’s first few weeks.
The side really came into its own over the Bank Holiday weekend. Consecutive away matches in Surrey were swept aside with alarming ease. On the Saturday Guernsey thumped Frimley Green 5-0 on the back of three more goals from Allen (Heaume and Ryan-Zico Black chipping in with the others) and Allen, Heaume, Dyer and Sam Cochrane (the club’s first ever signing) were on the mark as the Green Lions put four past Cobham without reply two days later.
Those victories took Vance’s side to the top of the table and there they hope to stay. They started September just as they ended August, defeating reigning champions Worcester Park - whose ground at Skinners Field is not up to standard required for the Premier Division - by the now customary margin of five unanswered goals. Dave Rihoy was Allen’s foil for the afternoon, scoring twice as the team’s star man added yet another hat-trick to take his league tally for the season to a remarkable 13.
The prospects for Guernsey this season are undeniably excellent, with promotion already looking like a certainty. But the biggest test so far faces them over the next few matches, albeit one I’d expect them to pass with their usual flying colours. Three away matches await, the first against Hounslow United on Saturday and the third against Westfield ten days later, with a CCL D1 Cup clash at Spelthorne Sports in between. Guernsey have travelled well thus far, so anything but three wins seems unlikely at this stage. Their electric start does not strike me as a fluke or a honeymoon period; this club means business. And while the same old questions remain about exactly how far they intend to go, the men behind GFC must be all smiles after brilliant beginnings.
(Photo credit: Steve Dewsnip)