Home-grown talent will serve Jersey in Aland

Friday 19th June 2009, 2:59PM BST.

Footballer of the Year Mark Lucas

JERSEY’S Island Games men’s football squad have created a little bit of history in the fact that 17 of the 18-strong squad players are Jersey born – and the odd one out, Footballer of the Year Mark Lucas, came to Jersey when he was two!

Scotsman Martin Cassidy, who will be assisting caretaker coach Craig Culkin in Aland later this month, is delighted. The former Muratti midfielder said: ‘It’s fantastic news for the Island and I’m delighted. T

‘This group I believe is the future of Jersey football and it’s almost a 360 degree turn from when I played when the Island side was diluted with Scots and Liverpudlians.
‘They are a great bunch of lads and I’m delighted to working with them.

‘Good players are now coming through as a result of the development work undertaken in recent years by development official Brian Oliver.’