JERSEY BULLS PULLS OUT: SQUE ISSUES

The 2021/22 season (last year's FA Cup tournament) marked the 150th anniversary of the first running of the Competition and it didn't take long for a "new first" to be recorded in that tournament. For the first time ever a club from the Channel Island of Jersey played in the competition and in the Extra Preliminary Round played on Saturday 7th August 2021. (sorry two days late but worth an airing).

Jersey Bulls entertained Horsham YMCA at Springfield Stadium in St Helier. It was the most southerly tie ever played in the FA Cup and the match ended with a club record being set by the Bulls - a record victory. They led 4-1 at half-time but early in the second half the Horsham 'keeper was red-carded and Jersey Bulls went on to win 10-1.

Jersey Bulls played 6 matches in their debut season in the FA Cup, reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round. The new Jersey connection to the FA Cup inspired a Jersey set of stamps marking the 150 years of the competition which were issued in May of 2022. In the style of "Roy of the Rovers", they are surely a must for stamp collectors (this one below shows Stanley Matthews in the famous 1953 Final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers, inspired by Stan to a 4-3 win. (The bubble says "He's pampoozalled??? him again", I think!)

This stamp below refers to the Jersey Bulls v Sutton Common Rovers tie, in the Second Qualifying Round, note top right by the club badge. Jersey Bulls are the most southerly club to play in the competition.

The bubble says "It's three, an incredible aerial back heel for the winner" in red and "Huh?" by the player in yellow. It celebrates the 150 Years of the FA Cup Final. 

To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup final, Jersey Post will issue a set of 8 commemorative stamps highlighting great FA Cup moments throughout the history of the competition. ‘Roy of the Rovers’ comic artist, David Sque, has illustrated the series of classic moments across a range of philatelic products, including a miniature sheet depicting the very first FA Cup final in 1872 and a souvenir miniature sheet that portrays the Island’s very own Jersey Bulls during their debut FA Cup run during the 2021/22 season.

BUT the Jersey Bulls have removed themselves from the latest FA Cup qualification round. This is a pragmatic approach to achieving the clubs on-going ambitions. Everyone at the club has the utmost respect for the historic FA Cup competition, however, with a lack of foresight of fixtures, the regularity of flight cancellations and ultimately the realisation that any successful campaign results in a back-log of matches at the end of the season, the club is instead choosing to focus attention to the Combined Counties Premier League South and the FA Vase.

The Island of Jersey, maintaining a team in the prestigious Football League System is exciting.  The Bulls squad played 58 matches last season, 28 of these were played away from home and 11 were midweek, this naturally has an impact.  The current FA Cup replay set-up favours clubs on the mainland rather than island teams, in addition to the limited reclaim of travel expenses. The Bulls will channel club funds into prioritising the first teams footballing commitments.

Stamp illustrator David Sque says of the issue: 

“I have been involved with illustrating football most of my career and I am probably best known for drawing England’s famous national football comic hero: ‘Roy of the Rovers’. I was both honoured and humbled when Jersey Post kindly commissioned me to illustrate a series of postage stamps together with various further illustrations connected with the issue.