Islanders prepare for Regions Cup

England’s representatives in the UEFA Regions Cup travelled to Croatia yesterday for their Preliminary Round games starting tomorrow. Their three games are all near to the Adriatic coastal resort of Split, where the party will be based.

The squad arrived at their hotel after a long, arduous journey which began at Guernsey Airport at 10.45am. The squad flew to Stansted, then transferred by coach to Heathrow where, after meeting up with The FA appointed staff, flew out to Zagreb and then finally to Split, arriving at the hotel around 11.30pm.

Commenting on the task ahead, team manager Tony Vance stated: "The players had been tired after the long journey, but after a relaxing morning around the hotel we're looking forward to getting down to work for the first training session and to concentrate on the task ahead." 

The players are fit and although they will miss leading scorer David Rihoy, who is injured, Vance added that he had a strong squad who were all ready to fight for the cause.

The squad’s preparation has been good, although they did suffer a 5-2 defeat in Dublin to the Republic of Ireland Amateur XI a couple of weeks ago. Vance felt that the match had been “a little bit of a wake-up call” and added: "The side made four mistakes and were punished for them. 

"We have analysed the video of that game and we know that we did not play too badly. The players know that they need to raise their levels of performance for this competition and they are ready to do this.”

The Group A fixtures are against Croatia in Dugopolje on 24 September, Wales in Kils on the Sunday and finally Turkey in Solin next Tuesday. The three group winners from the Preliminary Round, together with the two best second placed sides go through to the Intermediary Round of the competition.

Squad

Thomas Le Tissier (Guernsey Rangers FC), Joby Bourgaize (Belgrave Wanderers FC), Jamie Dodd (St Martins AC), Sam Cochrane  (Belgrave Wanderers), Thomas Strawbridge (St Martins AC), Jacques Isabelle (Guernsey Rangers FC), Glyn Dyer (St Martins AC), Matthew Warren (St Martins AC), Craig Young (Belgrave Wanderers), Ross Allen (Guernsey Rangers FC), Scott Bradford (Belgrave Wanderers), Matthew Drillott (Belgrave Wanderers), Richard Davey (Guernsey Rangers FC), Oliver McKenzie (Northerners AC), Dominic Heaume (St Martins AC), Simon Tostevin (Northerners AC), Ben Coulter (St Martins AC), Alex Le Prevost (Northerners AC).

Follow the fortunes of the team on TheFA.com