THE Jersey Ladies football team play the RAF Ladies on Sunday for a new trophy, presented by the visitors, to be called the Liberation Cup.
Now part of the Jersey FA’s Centenary programme of fixtures the visitors, based at Uxbridge, Middlesex, were due to play in the Island last September.
Kevin Miller, Jersey’s new manager after taking over from Mo Matthews immediately after the 5-1 thumping of Guernsey in the Cherry Godfrey Muratti last weekend, is without four of that squad for Sunday’s game.
‘We’re without captain Nina Woods and Becky Darts, who are playing CI hockey in the UK this weekend, and Jodie Botterill and Michelle Bichard are back at university for their exams,’ he said.
But some of those who were unavailable last weekend are back in the squad, among them Serena Guthrie and Danielle Evans.
But, Miller said, there will be no big changes at this stage.
‘There’s not much time between the Muratti and the RAF games for changes, but I’m working on the basis of “”if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”".
There won’t be any huge changes in formation or tactics.’ He added that he’s looking forward to taking up the reins after Matthews’ successful tenure.
‘After eight years working with Mo, this is the next step,’ he said.
‘The RAF are coming here off the back of their inter-services competition in April, against the Army and Navy, so they’ll be strong and well-organised.
I’m hoping that we can get a result this time.
We’ve produced some good performances against UK opposition lately but never managed to get a result, so a win or a draw would be good, to stop the slide.’ He’s delighted that the RAF are willing to commit to an annual match against Jersey, and said that a similar annual fixture against the Navy is also in the pipeline.
‘I think the Liberation Cup match, and a match against the Navy, is planned for next March or April, which would be fantastic for our Muratti build-up.
Guernsey have slipped up because they don’t play against UK sides.’ Said Miller: ‘We’re hoping that the Everton team (runners-up in last weekend’s FA Ladies Cup final against Charlton) will be coming over in the summer to have a few sessions with our girls.’ Miller will name his starting line-up for Sunday’s match on the day.
Jersey squad: Stephanie Henwood, Nicki Warren, Kerry Sauvage, Lauren Jéhan, Candice Sharples, Diane Dos Santos, Serena Guthrie, Claire Le Quesne, Danielle Evans (First Tower United); Suzanne Rosser, Jemma Daniel (Rozel Rovers); Helen Lagadu, Joanne Fuller, Sarah Williams (St Peter); Kirstin Buttle-Ulvin (St John), Leanne Bell (St Clement).
Manager: Kevin Miller.
Assistant managers: Tim Sauvage, Chris Jéhan.
Goalkeeper coach: Geoff Vandervliet.
Physiotherapist: Sue Meyer.
The inaugural Liberation Cup match takes place at 2 pm on Sunday 8 May, at Springfield Stadium.
Admission is free, as it is for the Island men’s match against an FA Select on Monday, also at Springfield, 6 pm.
Les Quennevais School’s girls football team will parade with the Inter-Insular Trophy at half time on Sunday.
Article posted on 6th May, 2005 - 12.00am
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