About the Games

The Guernsey Football Association LBG ("GFA") is pleased to announce that following a meeting of the Board of Directors on Monday 18th September 2006, it has decided to reconsider its decision regarding entering teams in the 2007 NatWest Island Games in Rhodes.

Since then, the GFA has held extensive discussions on all of these issues involving its governing body, the English Football Association, the Island teams' management, coaching and medical staff, and player representatives, and will now hold further discussions with the Guernsey Island Games Association and the International Island Games Association.

During this detailed process certain circumstances have changed and new information emerged, including assurances on several issues, that has allayed many of the concerns that the GFA previously had.

In light of this, the GFA is now pleased to confirm that it is prepared to enter both the Island Men's and Women's football teams into next summer's Island Games subject to certain criteria being fulfilled.

David Nussbaumer, Chairman of the GFA, explained, "Throughout this whole consultation process, our paramount concern has been the safety and well-being of our players. Our governing body, the FA, has verbally expressed serious concerns to us regarding subjecting any footballers, be they amateur or indeed full-time professionals, to a schedule of five highly competitive and physically demanding games in six days in likely temperatures of 35 - 40 degrees."

Football action from 2003 Island Games.

"We totally share these concerns and, for the benefit of our players, will continue to lobby the tournament organisers to re-schedule a far more appropriate programme of matches once they know how many islands will be entering football teams."

"All along we have been acutely aware of the desire of our Island players and coaching staff to win back the gold medal and have therefore agreed a package of medical, health and fitness measures to provide the best possible support to our players and coaches in the circumstances of the gruelling schedule ahead of them."

"This includes arranging for a doctor and physiotherapist, dedicated full-time to our footballers, to travel to Rhodes with our playing squads and be in attendance for all training sessions and matches; the teams will travel to Rhodes a full week before the Games start (and hence several days before the rest of the Guernsey Island Games party) to assist with acclimatisation; and each player will be fitness tested in October and April in order to be medically passed fit to compete in the anticipated punishing conditions in Rhodes."

"Obviously, further discussions will continue with the teams' management and players over the coming weeks as we provide whatever assistance regarding preparations, training and, for example, the importance of rehydration as we can arrange for them," Mr Nussbaumer further commented.

The GFA's Vice-Chairman, Jeff Vidamour, added, "This has not been an easy decision for the Board to take in the light of the not inconsiderable health issues."

"However, with the appropriate comprehensive travel insurance that we will put in place for our party, the written assurances regarding their personal fitness and health that the players will be providing to the GFA, and the financial commitments and fund raising efforts that they will each be making to enable them to travel to Rhodes, we look forward to the Guernsey footballing public joining us in supporting our Island elite players in their endeavours."