‘We all want football back’

Bradley Vowden, JFA President. Locked out. Still no football in Jersey. Picture: JON GUEGAN

It had been hoped, with falling infection numbers and the low risk of transmission associated with outdoor sport, that the football season would be up and running again. However, matches will not begin again until at least the beginning of March for both junior and senior footballers.

Vowden said that the return of games could not come soon enough.

‘I just feel really disappointed for everybody. I’m getting inundated with calls, with people asking me: “When’s football starting?” People can’t understand why they’re not considering outdoor sport and allowing it to take place,’ he said.

‘It’s not just football. I’m talking about all outdoor sports. You’re allowing ten people to play 5-a-side football [outside], which is in a slightly more confined space, probably creating a bit more contact than 11-a-side, and this is going on at clubs who are still training in pockets of ten – but you can’t allow 11-a-side on a proper-sized pitch. It just doesn’t make sense.’

The ex-Muratti captain was keen not to underplay the need to protect the health of the Island but said he felt that the lack of outdoor sport could also contribute to health issues. He said he was also left wondering why some leisure activities were allowed to go ahead when others, including football, were not.

‘I do understand about the health and safety of the Island. I understand that people have lost relatives, friends and family. I get that. But I think there is a wellbeing and a health issue beyond just keeping fit. People just want to get back out there and play football and be with their mates. It’s more than just kicking a ball,’ said Vowden.

‘They came out and said sport was low risk. Well, if it’s low-risk, how can that be prevented for another three weeks but somebody can go and get their hair cut in close contact? I think there’s more that can be done. I understand it’s got to be done in phases, but it doesn’t seem to me that they’ve considered sport in general with any priority whatsoever. We’re not going to be playing football until March, and that just seems such a shame.

‘I’ve got my daughter on a Saturday going to DramaLab. There’s a hundred kids that go to Trinity School, and that’s indoors, but we can’t have 22-25 people playing an outdoor sport running around at Quennevais. I just don’t see the logic. It just doesn’t seem like it has been thought through. That’s what’s really frustrating.’

Following the latest press conference on Monday night, Vowden was also left feeling frustrated at what he perceived to be less-than-transparent government communications and support from Jersey Sport.

‘[Chief Minister] John Le Fondré spoke [at a recent press conference about] football and rugby, but they’re completely different. There’s a lot more contact with scrums and tackling than there is for football. For me, you can’t compare the two in terms of potentially passing on any droplets of sweat or anything like that. There’s no evidence that outdoor sport is responsible for any of the numbers,’ he said.

‘I would like Jersey Sport to come out and be a little more vocal. I know there’s lots going on and there’s lots they can’t say but it would be great if there was more communication from them. I’m sure they’re doing things behind the scenes, 100%. We just want to hear what they are saying to government what we’re not party too. We’ve got Deputy Hugh Raymond and he just seems like a lone voice. But really it just comes down to being more transparent. Let’s tell people why it’s not happening.

‘Even if they just started with the kids, just to get people thinking positively. Everyone is geared up to get back playing sport. It was a really disappointing press conference. We all want football to come back.’

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