'Jersey football needs Grouville'

Claire Moulson is one of just 13 registered players at Grouville Women Picture: JON GUEGAN

JERSEY WANDERERS manager Chris Duncan believes that Island football officials must do ‘everything they can’ to ensure Grouville Women do not fold.

The parish club fulfilled two out of three Zenith Cup group-stage fixtures this season, but have handed walkovers to Duncan’s Wanderers and Rozel Rovers, due to a lack of player availability.

Despite being the outsiders of the four-team league, last season featured notable progress for Grouville, who became increasingly competitive as the campaign went on.

However, they have just 13 players registered to play this term.

Duncan, who himself only has 16 players available for selection each week, said: ‘It is very important for the women’s league to have four teams, at least, thriving.

‘Girls in the junior leagues need to see that there are options when they take the step up to senior level and, with four teams, there are more opportunities for first-team game time.

‘Unfortunately for us, we don’t have a particularly deep squad either, naming a maximum of a couple of substitutes per game.’

The Jersey FA have committed to aiding Grouville, and adopted a ‘common sense’ approach.

Normally, sides who forfeit three games in a single campaign are forced to withdraw from the JFA Combination, but Grouville may not suffer the same fate.

There has also been a suggestion that the two scratched games could be rescheduled in the new year.

The easterners have provided assurances to the JFA that they will be able to fulfil their remaining fixtures, beginning with a home tie against Duncan’s Wanderers this Sunday.

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