KER-NOW OR NEVER, LADS!

CORNWALL is renowned for its beautiful beaches and tasty pasties, but now its football team are determined to seize their moment in the spotlight.

- John Lyons

Kernow, the south-west county’s side formed five years ago, are gearing up for a winner-takes-all clash against FA Sapmi for a place in next year’s Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) Men’s World Football Cup in Kurdistan.

Their opponents represent the Sami people, who inhabit northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia – and they’re making a 5,000-mile round trip to meet Cornwall’s finest at Falmouth Town’s Bickland Park next Sunday, July 16 (1pm).

Kernow skipper James Ward, right, is relishing the chance to win a World Cup finals berth, even if it’s not the FIFA variety.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity and something I wouldn’t have dreamt of,” he told The NLP.

“I love the game so much and got to a level I was capable of – international students level and regional level.

“That’s the furthest I thought I could get. When this opportunity came up, it was something I wanted to be a part of. If I can put on my CV that I have played at a World Cup, it’s something to recognise for the rest of my life.”