ISLANDS OF OPPORTUNITY

SAM TODD REPORTS ON A NEW DESIGNED TO GIVE FOUR WOMEN'S TEAMS VITAL COMPETITIVE MATCH ACTION...

THE August bank holiday weekend marked a significant milestone for women's football teams from Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight.

Unlike the home nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who benefit from access to robust and well-established domestic leagues such as the Women's Super League, as well as frequent international fixtures during the World Cup, European Championship and Nations League, the female island teams have had to rely on the biennial Island Games for their solitary fix of tournament action.

Given that they've only claimed one gold medal between them - when Jersey women won on home soil in 2015 - since women's football was introduced to the Island Games in 2001, this event alone has not been sufficient to provide the island sides with a consistent level of competition needed to develop and maintain high standards of play.

The Cherry Godfrey Cup, which came about following discussions between the Jersey and Guernsey football associations, aims to bridge this gap by providing a new regular competitive platform every two years so that it alternates with the Island Games, which will next be held in Orkney in 2025.

Named after the title sponsors, a financial services firm with branches in each of the four competing islands, the first competition was held at Springfield Stadium in St Helier, Jersey, in August.

It featured the use of rolling substitutes and as they do in the League Cup direct penalties in the event of a draw after 90 minutes.