JERSEY will not contest this season’s Under-21 Muratti as the Football Association looks to protect its two younger representative fixtures amid funding cuts.
Jersey Football Association (JFA) has confirmed John Lloyd and Steve Coutanche will remain in charge of the Island’s Under-16 and Under-18 sides respectively this season.
However, the Under-21 side has been withdrawn from this year’s Muratti following the end of long-term sponsorship of the Ambassadeur Bowl, alongside other funding cuts and the rising cost and availability of inter-island travel.
The decision means JFA will instead prioritise the Under-16 and Under-18 fixtures, with the latter dating back more than a century.
Lloyd was in charge when Jersey defeated Guernsey 5-0 in April to lift the Nigel Gavey Trophy, while Coutanche oversaw an impressive 6-2 victory in last season’s Under-18 Muratti at Springfield Stadium.
The Under-16 fixture also holds particular significance as it provides players with their first opportunity to represent Jersey in a Muratti.
JFA said the financial pressures surrounding representative football had made the decision to withdraw the Under-21s a difficult one.
The cost of travel is also creating challenges for the senior men’s side, with JFA currently working on arrangements for the Muratti semi-final in Alderney next March.
Under current inter-island flight timetables, the Jersey squad would have to spend two nights away for the fixture, although JFA hopes departure times can be adjusted to reduce the impact.
A full list of confirmed inter-insular dates will be released later in the season.
JFA has thanked its existing representative team sponsors – EWG, Ingram Advocates, Randalls and the Jersey Bulls Foundation – for their continued support.
It has also appealed for further organisations to come forward to support local representative football.
Anyone interested in supporting the island’s representative teams can contact JFA chief executive Tim Pryor via tim.pryor@jerseyfa.com.
