- European Championship players won’t be coming to Jersey this summer.
- Gibraltar to send development side as they fight to win gold for the first time in eight years.
- Would you like to see Jersey’s senior side follow the same route as Gibraltar into Europe? Have your say below.
UEFA European Championship entrants Gibraltar will not be bringing any of their senior players to this summer’s NatWest Island Games.
Following their 6-1 defeat to Scotland on Sunday – in Group D of the qualifying campaign for France 2016 – the Gibraltar Football Association this morning confirmed that they will be sending a development side to Jersey 2015 as their full European squad prepare for their next encounter with world champions Germany.
Bermuda 2013: Gibraltar N/A, Jersey N/A
Isle of Wight 2011: Gibraltar 5th, Jersey bronze
Aland 2009: Gibraltar 9th, Jersey gold
Rhodes 2007: Gibraltar gold, Jersey 5th
Shetland 2005: Gibraltar N/A, Jersey N/A
Guernsey 2003: Gibraltar 6th, Jersey bronze.
This will indeed reduce the standard of the competition on show – with the likes of former Games player Lee Casciaro (who scored Gibraltar’s first ever goal in a competitive fixture at Hampden Park) not travelling – and will no doubt bring a smile to group opponents Guernsey’s faces as they bid to win their first gold medal since hosting the Games in 2003.
However, Gibraltar FA general secretary Richard Manning still believes the Overseas Territory will provide a stern test.
‘It will be a development team made up of under-19s and over-aged players as well,’ said Manning. ‘There will be players travelling who are on the verge of playing for the national team, so we’ll definitely be strong.’
Casciaro’s brother, Kyle, Chipolina brothers Roy and Joseph and Liam Walker, who were in Gibraltar’s squad for their fixture against Scotland, have all represented their ‘nation’ in previous Island Games’.
