THE Isle of Man’s senior men’s football side begin their quest to win the inaugural International Challenge Shield when they take on host nation Gibraltar this evening (Thursday).
The competition is being contested over several days between the IoM, Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar, with the final taking place on Saturday at Victoria Stadium.
The Manx team, sponsored by Celton Manx, travelled to Gibraltar earlier this week and includes all but two of the squad which suffered heartbreak against Jersey in the final of the Inter-League Cup at the Bowl in April.
Newly-crowned Isle of Man Football Association player of the year Ashley Webster has been drafted into the squad to replace Peel winger Lee Gale who is suffering a broken arm, while St George’s midfielder Sam Caine has been called up to replace unavailable St Mary’s striker Steven Priestnal.
Isle of Man squad for the International Challenge Shield: Max Thomas, Grant Dawson, Julian Ringham, Sean Quaye, Johnny Myers, Dan Lace, Liam Doyle, Nick Hurt, Chris Bass, Frank Jones, Marc Kelly, Ste Riding, Sam Caine, Ashley Webster, Calum Morrissey, Ciaran McNulty
Frank Stennett, IoMFA chief executive officer, commented: ‘The International Challenge Shield tournament comes at an ideal time for the Isle of Man senior men’s representative team. After their tremendous run and the ultimate major heartache in the FA Inter-League Cup final against Jersey, it is the perfect opportunity to start afresh and build for the future.
‘This is a really creditable tournament facilitated by the FA and I am sure all the players and the management team will be looking to bring the shield back to the Isle of Man.
‘Once again we are indebted to Celton Manx for its support and ongoing sponsorship of the island senior men’s team.’
The tournament represents the start of an interesting set of fixtures for hosts Gibraltar who will play either Jersey or Guernsey on Saturday, depending on which way results go.
They will then go head to head with 2009 FA Cup winners and now nPower League One side Portsmouth in a friendly on July 20.
The red and whites will then take on another League One side in the form of Notts County 11 days later before kicking off their domestic campaign in August.
Gibraltar recently moved closer to achieving UEFA membership which would allow them to participate in European competition.
The Isle of Man’s potential International Challenge Shield final opponents Guernsey go into the competition on the back of a hugely successful year in which they entered a side in the sixth tier of English football’s non-league pyramid and secured a Combined Counties League’s Division One and Premier Cup double.
Another team vying for a place in the final is Jersey, conquerors of the Manx side in the aforementioned Inter-League Cup final.
It is believed, however, that both of the Channel Islands are to send development squads to the Rock with islands’ younger players being given the chance to impress ahead of next season.