The first formal league football was played in Guernsey in 1893, with Guernsey’s oldest club, Rangers, playing against teams from Army regiments stationed in the island. The first winners of the Priaulx League, which dates all the way back to those early years, was Band Company of the 2^nd Battalion of the Royal Fusilliers and the Guernsey Football Association was founded at the same time, less than 20 years after the establishment of the Football Association in England in 1863. The GFA eventually affiliated with The FA in 1903, shortly before the start of the Muratti series, which played a key part in formalising the development of the sport in Jersey.

125 years on, Guernsey football continues to thrive, with a highly-competitive top flight Priaulx League, three other senior divisions, junior football leagues at under-12, under-13, under-14, under-15, under-16 and under-18 levels and in recent years the formation of Guernsey FC, which represented the first off-shore team to enter the English football pyramid.

To mark the 125^th anniversary, a series of events and activities are being arranged, which has included the introduction of a bespoke limited edition football shirt which will be worn by the Guernsey FA representative throughout the season. The Guernsey FA is pleased to announce that replica match shirts are now available for purchase, along with other limited edition 125^th anniversary merchandise. Full details of all available merchandise, which includes bags, t-shirts, mugs and hoodies, can be found at the following link:

http://www.guernseyfaacademy.com/ecommerce/category/125range

In addition to offering limited edition merchandise, the GFA is searching for Guernsey football memorabilia, the older the better, for a proposed display in Guernsey Museum at Candie at the beginning of 2019.

“We’d love to discover old playing kit, boots, Muratti caps, trophies, team photographs, match programmes or team sheets, anything really which is part of the history of Guernsey football. We know there are items out there from the early decades of the 20^th century and it would be great to have a real variety to put on display with Guernsey Museums,” said Guernsey FA director James Falla.

If you have any football memorabilia or require any further information about the 125^th anniversary merchandise, please contact the Guernsey FA;

Tel – 01481 200443

Email – admin@guernseyfa.com