The Guernsey FA is delighted to announce that following postponement last season, the long-running Stranger Cup competition is back for the 2021/22 season thanks to the support of headline sponsor Ross Gower Group.

Gareth Burchell, Director at Ross Gower, said:

“As a company with deep local roots dating back more than 70 years, Ross Gower is delighted to be able to associate ourselves with such a well-established and historic cup competition as the Stranger Cup. It was disappointing that due to Covid the competition couldn’t be run last season, but we’re excited for it to be up and running this year. The group stages of the competition in January and February will provide a focus for senior football and we look forward to seeing good crowds at the KGV for what should be a very hard-fought competition.”

Guernsey FA Chief Executive Gary Roberts said:

“The GFA very much welcomes the support of Ross Gower for this competition. The Stranger Cup has a defined place in the Priaulx season and with the involvement of the Island Under-18s always makes for a cup which teams very much want to win.”

Once again played in a group stage format, this season’s Ross Gower Stranger Cup will be played over the first three weekends of February, with all group stage fixtures played on the 3G pitch at KGV. Matches will be played on Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The opening game will see Sylvans play against Belgrave Wanderers on Friday 21st January.

Three group winners and the best-placed runner-up will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played in March, with the final scheduled for the evening of 12th April.

The groups are as follows:

Group 1: Rovers, North, Rangers

Group 2: Guernsey FA U18's, St Martins, Vale Rec

Group 3: Sylvans, Manzur, Belgrave Wanderers

The Stranger Charity Cup was first played for as a Guernsey FA competition in season 1905/6, when it was shared by Belgrave Wanderers and Northerners. The cup was originally played for solely by teams from Northerners, having been donated by club president William Stranger, a prosperous stone merchant who dedicated much of his life to Guernsey football. North left the Guernsey FA for a season in the early years of the 20th century but, on their return, donated the cup for a GFA competition. The Stranger Charity Cup became the foremost senior cup competition for Guernsey teams.