MURATTI action continues tomorrow with the Jersey FA Women’s side hoping to do what the men couldn’t and lift the famous trophy.
Action from Springfield Stadium in the 2026 Close Finance Women’s Muratti is scheduled for a 1.30pm kick off.
Holly Sundby will captain the reds in their attempt to win back the coveted trophy which has eluded them in the previous two meetings.
“I think our biggest thing will be getting the emotions under control,” the captain said. “We’ve just got to keep the game calm, just play and breathe.”
Since the first women’s Muratti in 1997, Jersey have dominated overall. They currently lead the overall head-to-head standings 16 to 8.
Since 2008 Jersey went on a historic winning streak, however 2024 saw the Sarnians snatch back the crown in a 2-0 win, before retaining on home soil last year – a 2-1 win in their opening game at Victoria Park.
Guernsey’s Calleigh Hedley (below) in particular has been a thorn in Jersey’s side, with four goals in her last three Muratti appearances – however, she is absent from Guernsey’s squad for tomorrow.
Jersey are all too familiar with the Sarnian power. After allowing Guernsey FC to compete in the domestic Cherry Godfrey Women’s Division in the 2024/25 season, they ran away with the title, winning 11 of their 12 matches.
This season, Guernsey FC entered the Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One South – at Step 6 of the English women’s football pyramid, finishing seventh out of 12 with a record of seven wins, five draws and eight defeats.
This season however, with the introduction of the Jersey Bulls Women into the English football pyramid, women’s football on he red half of the channel has soared to new heights.
In their debut season in Surrey Division 1 – step 8 of the English women’s football pyramid – the Bulls achieve a 100% in record and secured promotion in devastating fashion, scoring 114 goals and conceding just 15 in their 17 matches overall.
Forward Anita Tavares (left) is available for the first time after being named Player of the Season were she recorded the eye-watering stats of 41 goals and 35 assists.
Also, former Bognor Regis Ladies player of the season Danielle Bradshaw comes in for her Muratti debut after an excellent season herself for the Bulls.
Skipper Sundby added: “It’s quite a similar squad to the last few years. A lot of the team are young players who’ve come through together, and we have Anita [Tavares] and Dannie [Bradshaw] with us now too.
“Anita is our top goalscorer for Bulls but has never played a Muratti before, because she’s been away in America for four years. And Dannie hasn’t played in one either. I think she’ll be able to keep a level head throughout the game.”
Jersey will head into tomorrow’s game with a flowing confidence, featuring a squad dominated by those Bulls players.
The likes of Sam Silva-Pinto, who gave Jersey the lead in last year’s 2-1 defeat, know how to find the net in big games, and the style of football this squad have been developing under manager Chad Morris this season will prove challenging to break down.
Morris heads the ship again tomorrow and will be desperate to see the famous trophy donned in red once again.
“We’ve looked at what their strengths are and what their weaknesses are,” Morris explained. “The plan is obviously to nullify their strengths and hopefully pick on their weaknesses. As for any emotion around Guernsey and it being a Muratti, I’m sure that’ll come on the day.
“There’s no point getting ahead of ourselves. The days of 8-0 wins are gone because they play together every week now. That’s what makes it a good game because the matches are close – they’re proper games of football.
“Right now, it’s just about staying in the present and focusing on what we’re doing in training, sticking to the game plan and making sure that comes through in everything we work on during the week.
“We know the benefit the home crowd gives our girls and we’re desperate to see another big showing tomorrow. The weather looks like it’s going to be great, so we really want to see as many people down supporting the women’s game and cheering on our girls to win the trophy back.”
Sundby concluded: “I think we will try to dominate in possession. We’ve had a lot of success in possession this season and we’ve been able to be more creative. And Guernsey are always going to be physical. I think it’ll be a very physical game.
“I just want to win it. I think this team deserves it.”
Jersey FA Women: Holly Sundby (c), Poppy Benest, Danielle Bradshaw, Shana Dolbel, Roisin Flynn, Amy Guthrie, Natasha Keen, Rachael McCartan, Leah Morris, Chantelle Renouard, Sofia Rodrigues, Aine Ruth, Sam Silva-Pinto, Tiffany Sundby, Anita Tavares, Tayah Vasse
Guernsey FA Women: Candice Bougourd (c), Alana Hockey (GK), Emma Queripel, Jess Frampton, Scarlett Kenneally, Aimee Ogier, Mollie Watson, Kellie Creed, Amy Dallamore, Heidi Dawber, Donna Gallienne, Rochelle Mullen, Codie Le Flem, Elise Le Lacheur, Adrienne Leech, Ruby Smith.
