MARTIN CASSIDY is confident his team will make history and become the first that has represented England to make it to the finals of the Uefa Region’s Cup next year.
Jersey qualified by winning the FA Inter-League Cup last year after beating West Cheshire 5-1 in the final.
However, in 11 editions of the competition since 1999, no English team has made it further than the intermediate round group phase.
Jersey will have their work cut out to improve upon that over the next week with tough games against hosts Lazio, previous runners-up Bavaria and a North Macedonian side in Group 5. But despite the size of the task ahead of them, Cassidy believes his side are well-equipped to top the group and qualify.
‘One thing we have shown when we have set up to play against stronger opposition is we’ve always done pretty well if we follow the game plan and keep it tight. We’ve done it over a number of international friendlies over the last couple of years, so if the players are disciplined enough, and we don’t go gung ho, we’ll be hard to beat,’ said the Jersey manager.
‘We know we’ve also got talent and got players who can win games and score goals from different areas of the pitch.
‘I am quietly confident that we will cause a little upset over there. We’re definitely going over there to compete.’
Cassidy’s squad is dominated by Jersey Bulls players, although they are missing both Sol Solomon and Lorne Bickley due to strict rules on amateurism in the tournament, with both players having previously been on paid contracts.
And he believes this is the best group of players he has worked with in the five years he has been as manager of the Island select side.
‘We’ve got quite a young group as well,’ he added.
‘We’ve got a lot of players in their early 20s and they know that what is in front of them is a huge opportunity to go and play at the highest stage of amateur football.
‘We’re all very excited.’
