The inclusion of a side from Jersey in the Combined Counties League Division I has piqued the interest of opposition fans looking at away trips. And ‘ground hoppers’ looking to tick off visits to different stadia have also visited Springfield since the start of the season.
And while the numbers are not on the level of the Island’s rugby side, who play in English rugby’s second tier, Ian Horswell, Jersey Bulls’ commercial director, believes that football can provide a welcome boost to visitor numbers – particularly if the Bulls can continue their early success and rise a few divisions.
He said: ‘There has been an impact on the local economy.
‘We have teams stay over in hotels and they have to stay in different places than the refs.
‘If we can get the clubs back on the same day we will, but sometimes they have to stay over, so that helps hotels.
‘In terms of fans coming over, you don’t get the numbers at this level but the more we go up, then the more we will see.’
Jersey Bulls have made a sensational start to their first season in the English leagues – yet to lose, or even draw, a game. Mr Horswell said that a number of ‘ground hoppers’ – football fans who travel the length of the UK to tick grounds off their lists – had made the trip to Springfield this season.
‘We had Stevenage, a football league team, over in the summer, who brought a big load of staff, plus 50 fans, who went out in the bars and for food, so it all helps.
‘We’ve had these ground hoppers over and we’ve also seen people who have moved to England and the UK coming back to support us.’
