Football: JRFC link to boost Island sport?

A member of Jersey’s Muratti-winning squads for the 1987 and 1989 editions of the annual inter-island battle with Guernsey – the former alongside junior star Graeme Le Saux – former Wycombe Wanderers and Sutton United player Fraser has been handed the task of improving the JFA’s presence from a commercial sponsorship perspective.

Gavin Fraser: “We’re keen to bring over teams on the same weekends as other sports to promote sport in the Island”

And, as the Island’s football schedule becomes increasingly busy, he would like to co-ordinate future events with Jersey RFC as part of a three-pronged attack to boost participation and revenue.

‘Having been lucky enough to play for the Island I am a great believer that we have to raise the standard at every level, and the JFA do support that aim wholeheartedly – “football for all” is really key for us,’ said Fraser, who highlighted the recent demise of Magpies FC, one of his former clubs, as a reason for taking up the JFA role.

‘We need to provide quality and regular representative matches at every level, from under-12s through to the seniors and increase participation. One of the things I want to do is help the JFA create Jersey as a destination for sport, and there are three things on the horizon that will help us.

‘We want to make sure the clubs play at the best level possible and having spoken to schools and clubs in the UK and Europe it seems they are in a similar situation in that they don’t get too many representative matches. So we’re keen to bring over teams on the same weekends as other sports to promote sport in the Island.

Fraser continued: ‘Another thing we need to do is increase revenue in the short term, so what we’d like to do between now and Gotland is create a programme for every senior match which we will sell for £1 to anybody who comes to watch, and that will help to get our teams to the Island Games.

‘There’s lots happening and obviously my role in that is to help and assist these things.’

Jersey's Muratti squad in 1987, including Fraser (front, far left), JFA chief executive Neville Davidson (back, second from left) and future star Graeme Le Saux (back, fourth from left)

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