Match Information
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Guernsey 1-0 Southall
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When: Sunday 13th April 2025
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Kick-off: 2pm
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Where: Victoria Park, Victoria Avenue, St Sampsons, Guernsey GY2 4BB
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Competition: Pitching In Isthmian League - South Central Division
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Attendance: 891
Guernsey opened their new state-of-the-art £10 million stadium at Victoria Park on Saturday 29th March 2025 for a 1-1 draw against Westfield attracting a bumper crowd of 2,207.
I heard plenty of positive feedback so I wanted to visit the venue as soon as possible and an interesting Sunday encounter versus Southall afforded the ideal opportunity.
Incidentally, I had previously been to the island twice for football. On 3rd October 1987, I saw Guernsey Priaulx League side Vale Recreation hammer Brockenhurst 9-1 in an FA Vase tie at Corbet Field (attendance 318).
Any logic of sports betting went out the window on that occasion! Then in the summer of 2003, I witnessed six matches on Guernsey in the Island Games.
These included the highest scoring fixture I have ever seen…Isle of Wight 20 Sark 0 at Blanche Pierre Lane.
I also watched the final where hosts Guernsey beat the Isle of Man 3-1 at Footes Lane (attendance 4,800). Anyway, after a 22 year gap it was time for me to return.
My Itinerary
I was extremely grateful to join the official Southall party for this Channel Islands expedition. Not wanting to miss the early Sunday morning flight from Gatwick, I drove down the preceding night and stayed in an adjacent airport hotel.
I subsequently met up with Southall’s players and officials at 7am inside the South Terminal. Our Aurigny Airline flight departed at 8.35am. It was a one hour journey spanning 160 miles.
The group was picked up at Guernsey Airport by a coach which took us to a nice hotel for breakfast before continuing on to the stadium.
Ground Description
A splendid 3,000 capacity arena shared by the Guernsey Football Association.
There are two excellent grandstands on either touchline (offering 700 seats combined) and covered terracing sits behind both goals.
Complete with a “world class” 3G all-weather pitch, a colourful scoreboard and Premier League-style pitchside electronic advertising boards, I felt the facilities easily reach National League South standard.
Programme Details
A bumper 64 pages priced at £3.
Contents incorporated club news, action photos, match reports, a player column, focus on visitors Southall, fixtures & results, details of Guernsey supporters in America, an activity page for younger fans, player stats, club rules, articles on the Guernsey women’s team, Isthmian League table and the squad list.
The Match
Guernsey were battling against relegation - therefore anyone possessing expert football odds knowledge would’ve expected a pulsating game.
Accordingly, the home side shaded first half exchanges without scoring. Into the second period, Southall mustered a prolonged 20 minutes spell of near misses. But suddenly, Guernsey counter attacked and Sam Murray decisively shot into the net.
Two minutes later, Southall were reduced to ten men due to Ryan Hope’s red card thereby limiting their chances of earning a positive result.
Guernsey’s fans created vibrant noise all afternoon featuring gaggles of youngsters energetically singing behind the goal accompanied by a club steward playing both trumpet and drum!
Spirited renditions of “Guernsey Till I Die” and “When The Greens Go Marching In” rang out reflecting the large sign at one end proclaiming: “Make sure the roar can be heard in Alderney”.
The People
Guernsey directors John Loveless and Nic Legg provided a warm welcome at Victoria Park.
Furthermore, I was looked after throughout the whole day by Southall chairman Sanjeev Sharma, director Stephen Harrison and manager Max Howell.
It was fascinating to hear about hopes of building a stadium of their own in Southall following 33 years of groundsharing outside the area.
It would bring fresh income streams and encourage local people to become actively involved at the club.
Post-Match
A delicious Thai green curry meal was served to the Southall contingent in Guernsey’s plush clubhouse ahead of the coach taking us back to the airport.
Boarding onto our flight was unexpectedly delayed for one hour though. We finally landed at Gatwick at 8.15pm.
I drove home exceedingly tired by this audacious day trip but it undoubtedly ranks as one of my most memorable groundhops.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
