This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) War, (April 2nd until June 14th 1982). We pay homage to and honour the memory of the fallen Argentine and British soldiers, who lost their lives in the South Atlantic. It should also lead us to reflect on why, four decades on from the cessation of hostilities, Argentina and the United Kingdom have not been able to resume a substantive dialogue to resolve the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, despite the call made by the international community through UN resolutions.
On August 19th 2018, the England "C" National XI ventured to the Falkland Islands to play an international match on November 10th and 11th at Stanley, next to the Government House and Community school.
The squad played against the Falkland Islands team and a Combined Services Military Police, the next day.
The visitors also held coaching sessions at the Community school and at the Islands' local Junior and Infant schools at Mt Pleasant.
Chair of the FA Representative Matches, Andrew Shaw, arranged the goodwill visit to the Islands and the armed forces.
The squad also attended a remembrance service at the capital's Christchurch Cathedral.
The Falkland Islands have had organised soccer since 1892 when the first official game was played between the British Defence Force and the Domestic Volunteers.
Stanley FC was formed in 1916, a National XI was first brought together after the Second World War and the locals eventually gathered together to form an Island League, which today includes the C&R Construction FC, Fire FC, Teenage Mutant Ninjas Skrtles, the Green Island Falcons, Home Bankers amongst 8 clubs. The military sides tended to be too strong for the local teams and it was the West Yorkshire Rgt that featured as most successful.
The Falkland Islands Football League (FIFL), Branded Stanley Services Ltd. Football League, is the national governing body in the Islands. The association operates the national side and the Stanley Services League, the only domestic league on the islands. They also sponsor an all-star team from the league, called Stanley FC, who occasionally play friendly matches against stationed troops on the islands and Royal Navy makeshift teams.
FIFL is not a member of CONMEBOL, the governance of South American football, due to the issues over the sovereignty of the Islands and Argentina.
Stanley FC, therefore have The NatWest Island Games to compete in, from 2001 and in 2013 they earned a third place medal. In 2017 they played in Gotland against the Isle of Man, Hitra and Yns Mon (guess where they're from)-losing all three matches and playing out a final match against Alderney, which was lost 0-3 to earn 16th place.
Stanley FC, therefore have The NatWest Island Games to compete in, from 2001 and in 2013 they earned a third place medal. In 2017 they played in Gotland against the Isle of Man, Hitra and Yns Mon (guess where they're from)-losing all three matches and playing out a final match against Alderney, which was lost 0-3 to earn 16th place.
Distance and costs limit the number of times the FIF representative League team can honour the invitation to play in such tournaments. Flights have to be by RAF and LAN, naturally having limitations in joining in the Island Games. Those Islanders who get picked include mainly locals but four Englishman were included; Sam Toolan of Worthing Utd U18, Joshua Ennis of Sheffield Utd, Ethan Gilson-Clarke from Cheltenham Town FC academy and Daniel Briggs-unattached. One other "foreigner" was from Bangkok!
No comments:
Post a Comment