INTER-insular season is well and truly upon us.
On Sunday, Jersey’s U16 footballers will descend on Footes Lane in Guernsey to take on their Sarnian counterparts, looking to retain the crown for a fifth consecutive time.
The Neil Gavey Trophy has been contested 15 times since its inception in 2007, with Jersey winning 11 times to Guernsey’s four.
The fixture had a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, but the red side of the Channel Islands boasted back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019.
Since its return in 2022, Jersey have bested their rivals both home and away again, to extend their unbeaten run back to 2017.
In 2022, they travelled to Guernsey to complete a superb 3-0 away win, before returning to Caesarean shores in 2023 and sealing an excellent 2-1 victory.
Jersey manager Jody Byrne believes his current crop of talented youngsters are in an excellent position to make it five consecutive Muratti wins.
He said: “I think we have a fantastic group of players at our disposal.
“I have personally been coaching these lads since U12 level, so know them extremely well.
“In the past, we have lost players of this age group to sides in the UK, such as Luca Picotto [Fulham FC], but this year we haven’t had that. We have been able to keep this group together, which I think is massively beneficial.”
Part of the inter-insular appeal is the challenge of competing on enemy shores. As intimidating and exciting a prospect as this can be, Byrne feels his side’s experience in Guernsey will stand them in good stead.
“The squad we have is the same squad that won The Star Trophy in Guernsey last year,” he added.
“We got a 2-0 win that day and the boys handled themselves outstandingly.
“They have already experienced what it is like to compete in Guernsey in a massive game and they came through it with flying colours.
“There is nothing like an inter-insular contest. It’s something we can’t really replicate on Island, the rivalry and intensity is completely different.
“A good portion of our squad are getting regular JFA Premiership 1 football locally, which is great experience and confidence building for them.
“I’m sure all these factors will come together this weekend and give the boys a massive boost that they can go out there and bring the trophy home again.”
Jersey U16 Muratti squad: Afonso Freitas, Ollie Vincent, Sonny Cassidy, Stanley Dunne, Joey O’Toole (c), Ewan Brodie, Jacob Clynes, Tomas Goncalves, Harry Henderson, Will Yates, Joseph Gardner, Aiden Le Saint, Alfie Queree, Paul Burton, Josh Mercury, Dylan McGee. Manager: Jody Byrne. Coaches: John Lloyd & Paul Renton
