THE 125^th anniversary of Guernsey Rangers Football & Athletics Club will be celebrated with a re-enactment of their first ever game.

Rangers, which is the Channel Islands’ oldest club, had its first game on 5^th October 1893 against the 5^th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, which was based at Fort George. Now, 125 years later, Rangers will take on a team from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, also known at The Tigers, which are the local Regiment of Guernsey after the amalgamation between the Royal Hampshire regiment and Queen’s Regiment in 1992.

‘We wanted something to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the oldest football club in the Channel Islands and so it’s incredible that the Tigers have found the time to come to Guernsey to help us mark the occasion,’ said president of Guernsey Rangers Guy Hardill.

‘That game, which ended in a 4-1 win for the Fusiliers, was the start of competitive football in the island with representatives from Rangers and the Fusiliers coming together a few months later to form what became The Guernsey Football Association. Since then, tens of thousands of young people have been involved which is why we wanted to celebrate with something not seen in Guernsey in living history.

‘Not only will we re-enact the game but the match ball will be delivered to KGV by The Tigers freefall Display Team who will do a free fall display over KGV from 1.30pm until 2.15pm which will be a real spectacle for all to see.’

The Tigers arrive in the island during the morning of Saturday 20^th October and will be given the honour of firing of the noon day gun at Castle Cornet. On Sunday, the match kicks off at 2.30pm with gates open from 1pm.

‘We want this to be a real celebration and so the focus is on family and football fun. As well as the match, there will be food and drink, charity stalls and children’s activities. Entry is free but we will be collecting donations to help ex-service personnel through The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Benevolent Fund,’ said Rangers treasurer Lorraine Ellis.                                                                                    

Ravenscroft has provided sponsorship to cover the cost of a special trophy as well as a commemorative gift for the players and officials.

Captain Lee Gidalla from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment said it was an honour for the team to be coming over.

‘The Tigers have a long and proud association with Guernsey through our links with Elizabeth College and our status as Guernsey’s local Regiment. We are very much looking forward to it and hope as many people come out to celebrate this milestone for Rangers."