Guernsey boss Dave Merris says the squad for Jersey hinges on injury updates ahead of this weekend’s Muratti Vase.
The Greens head to Jersey this weekend as holders of the Vase, but – like their opponents 12 months ago – have seen their preparations disrupted by end of season club play-offs.. Guernsey FC had initially been scheduled to contest their Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final last Sunday, but will now welcome Peacehaven a week on Saturday, with that fixture having only been confirmed on Liberation Day after the club had looked set to
lose their home advantage for it.. A training squad, featuring many of those involved in the Muratti semi-final win in Alderney, has met twice already this week and will train again at least once more before the weekend.. Merris said, barring potential injury doubts, none of the players he would like involved at Springfield have wanted to step back to prioritise the Green Lions in a week’s time.. ‘I can only imagine what Jersey went
through last year with all the Bulls stuff, because obviously there was an element of that potentially occurring this year with us,’ said the Guernsey manager.. ‘But luckily that’s not the case.. Nobody’s come forward and said, I’m not going to play for Guernsey because we’ve got a final coming up, so we’ve all been on board, apart from one or two injury worries and issues, everybody’s fully on board and ready for Saturday.’ Jersey
manager Jack Cannon named a provisional 23-man squad earlier this month, with at least one notable name missing.. Veteran defender Luke Campbell, who scored twice at Footes Lane as Jersey won in 2024 and who has been a towering figure in the fixture, is suspended for this weekend after being sent off in their defeat at Victoria Park last season.. His one-match ban having not yet been served.. That news will come as a welcome
boost to Guernsey, who have not lifted the Muratti at Springfield since a 4-1 win in 2014.. It is something Dave Merris is hoping to change this weekend as he bids to lead the Greens to back-to-back Vase victories for the first time since that 4-1 win 12 years ago.. ‘It doesn’t matter what age group you are playing under.. Being able to represent the island in a Muratti, as a player or a coach,
is a great honour,’ he said.. ‘I always look forward to them coming around and being the holders of the trophy at the moment, it’s a good position to be in, but obviously going to Jersey is completely different.. ‘It’s not going to be easy at all, but obviously we’ll be doing our absolute utmost to bring that trophy back with us.’
Muratti Vase, Guernsey FC, Dave Merris, Jersey suspension, Luke Campbell, Springfield trip, injury doubts