A week of Play Offs, Defeat and Victory.

This last week saw the good and bad happen on my  growing journey of covering Channel Island sport. On Tuesday I drove down to Leatherhead in Surrey with great excitement and anticipation. My beloved Guernsey FC had reached the play offs for the Ryman South league and they were to face Leatherhead. They were the slight underdogs as Leatherhead had beaten them 2-0 in the league fixture and finished above them in the table.

Guernsey FC's Dominic Heaume has an early shot blocked.
Copyright Matt Bunn 

Things did not go well from the outset. Leatherhead took the lead in the first couple of minutes and it was an uphill battle from there. They were a big and powerful side and Guernsey never got into their usual rhythm. By half time Guernsey found themselves trailing by 2-0. A number of players had just come back from injury and this looked to be having an affect. After the break, Leatherhead increased the lead to 3 and the game seemed up.

Guernsey FC's Dominic Heaume shows the anguish of going 3-0 behind
 and his promotion dreams in tatters.
Copyright Matt Bunn.

Their record goalscorer Ross Allen had just taken a knock and at 3-0 he gave the thumbs down and came off. All Guernsey fans knew that that was their chance of promotion gone. With only 25 mins left and their star striker now off the field, what hope was there? Manager Tony Vance brought on Marc McGrath, Ryan Zico Black and Rhys Jordan..........

Star man Ross Allen gives the thumbs down. All hope gone?
Copyright Matt Bunn

With 10 minutes left and Guernsey seemingly more balanced after the substitutions, they hit back through Mark McGrath who latched onto a through ball. Was there time? In the next attack, Rhys Jordan played a through ball and Dave Rihoy was on hand to score a magnificent goal and send the Guernsey fans into unexpected delight and hope. The Leatherhead fans went very quiet.......

Guernsey FC's Dave Rihoy strikes to make it 3-2
Copyright Matt Bunn

With experience and a bit of luck (Guernsey had a third goal ruled out minutes later for offside), Leatherhead saw out the game and the final whistle brought an end to what had been a fascinating encounter. For one, the season was over, for the other a promotion hope was still alive. Leatherhead have since won the Final and have been promoted. Congratulations to them and I wish them luck next season.

Guernsey FC assistant manager Colin Fallaize consoles Jamie Dodd at the final whistle.
Copyright Matt Bunn

My next Channel Island game was to be a new sport for me. I was asked to cover  Team Jets netball. They were playing in a play off with the prize being a place in Premier League 3, a national league. Before that, I had the delights of covering Stoke knock four goals past a hapless Fulham who were relegated on the day.

Fulham's Scott Parker is tackled by Stoke City's Stephen Ireland and Marc Muniesa.
Copyright MattBunn/JMP

Onto Sunday and a return for me to where I studied. The Netball play offs were being held at Loughborough University and it was my first return for 15 years. A lot had changed and I had lost a lot of hair in that period.

I met with the reporter from Jersey Press and he gave me the nod on what it was the paper were after. I was slightly nervous, having never even seen a game of Netball in my life. I was told it was very quick and so it proved to be. The game is made up of four 15 minute quarters and I spent the first one trying to work out patterns of play and thinking how I could get some nice images out it. The sports hall  was quite messy to create a decent clean image and the light was not good but I persevered. 

On the court, Team Jets came out of the blocks at a blistering pace and blew their opponents away. The game was fast and the passing and movement from the Jersey girls was excellent.

Team Jets in action in their play off final at Loughborough
Copyright Matt Bunn

By half time the game was over really, with Team Jets just to powerful and fit for their opponents. I just enjoyed the speed and skill of the game, unlike Just Ahead, the opponents.

Team Jets in action during their 54-43 victory
Copyright Matt Bunn

At the final whistle, the girls celebrated and you could see the relief on their faces. A years hard work and they had achieved what Guernsey FC couldn't, a promotion. I really enjoyed my first Netball game and look forward to covering the girls on their journey next year. As for Guernsey FC, they will regroup and come back stronger, I have no doubts about that and I look forward to documenting it. It was great to finish on a high after such a low last week. Channel Islands sport is in a very healthy state from my experience and long may it continue.

Team Jets celebrate their promotion and make it a happy
 ending to the week for me.
Copyright Matt Bunn

Channel Islands and Fally

Last weekend saw me troop off down south to cover my beloved Guernsey FC twice in three days and Jersey Rugby in between. I arrived in Whitstable early on Thursday and wanted to visit a really lovely restaurant called East Quay fish bar. I was disappointed to find it closed....... I instead opted for a sandwich and to make my way to the ground nice and early.
The team arrived and I spent the next couple of hours socialising and getting myself ready for the game.   It was a bitterly cold night and the lads were quick out of the blocks. Marc McGrath scoring early on and Ross Allen adding to his tally to go in 2-0 at half time.

Dominic Heaume shoots at goal early on in the game. ©Matt Bunn

The second half began where the first left off and Ross Allen bagged his second goal to put the Green Lions 3-0 up. Game over. Whitstable did pull one back but the lads were fully in control. The downside of the evening were injuries to right back Nigel Hutton and key midfielder Kieron Mahon.

Ross Allen celebrates goal number 50 for the season. ©Matt Bunn

The lights were not great at Whitstable and I did not have my best game with the camera. My favourite shot of the evening was of Jamie Dodd getting involved after Angus Mackay had been headbutted, the Whitsatble umber 12 was sent off.

Jamie Dodd in fighting spirits. ©Matt Bunn

I made my way to the hotel we were staying at in Brighton and wired my pictures from the 'just as I arrived' closed bar!!! The team turned up at the hotel at 1am and we were checked in. I was rooming with Fally, the assistant manager. One of his many sayings was ringing in my ears "It ain't easy living with Fal!" It actually turned out to be easy living with Fal and he made me smile on numerous occasions. Top man, Mr Fallaize.

On Friday, I had been asked by the Guernsey Press to send in some pictures of the lads relaxing around Brighton....... not as easy as than you may think. They know me well enough and are cautious these days of me taking humorous/off guard images and then sending them in. They get a lot of ribbing from their mates back home. The image the paper went with was of Dominic Heaume on the pier. I warned him that I had sent it. He received a text very early on Saturday morning from one of friends on the island ribbing him!

Dominic Heaume having the time of his life. ©Matt Bunn

On Friday afternoon I made a FOUR hour journey up to Ealing to photograph Ealing v Jersey for the Jersey Evening Post. This was a massive relegation game and a lot of fans had made the journey over from Jersey. It probably took them less time than my 70 mile journey. There is a bitter rivalry between Jersey and Guernsey. Some of the lads had dared me to wear my Guernsey hat for a laugh..... I did and my head remained warm.

The game itself was untidy and not great for images. Games at this level are lit well in patches but anywhere near the try line is very difficult to get anything from.

Jersey's Drew Locke bursts through the Ealing defence to score the first try of the game. ©Matt Bunn

Jersey went into an early lead and I and many others thought for a while that the only winner was going to be them. Slowly though, Ealing recovered and went on to win by 2 points. This was a massive victory and now Jersey will be looking over their shoulder anxiously for the remainder of the season.

Jerseys Niall O' Conner steals the line out. ©Matt Bunn

It was again freezing and I was only too pleased to get back to my car after wiring my photos. An hour and a half later I was back in the hotel bar sharing a drink with my room mate. Attention was turning to tomorrow's big game........

Saturday arrived and we all had a hearty Brighton breakfast and then made our way to the home of Peacehaven and Telscombe, just seven miles up the road. The air was full of excitement, a big crowd was expected for an eagerly anticipated game between first and third.

Guernsey's Rhys Jordan is sent flying in the first half. ©Matt Bunn

The game started and from the outset it was a really entertaining game. Both teams had set out to attack and it was an intriguing battle. Each side had reasonable chances and were playing good football. Because of Injuries from the Whitstable game, Guernsey only named two substitutes and so it was thought that tiredness might play a factor but we were to be proved wrong.

Goal machine Ross Allen missed a rare 1 on 1 in the first half and had a very good shout for a penalty turned down from a rather poor referee.

Ross Allen is brought down in the penalty box but nothing is given. ©Matt Bunn

The two teams went in at half time 0-0 but everyone knew there were goals to be had. Unfortunately for Guernsey FC, it went the other way soon after the restart. The new defensive partnership of Gus Mackay and Jacques Isabelle were caught out as Peachaven scored very early on.

From that moment on Guernsey went on the attack. They played wonderful football in blustery conditions - they had two efforts dramatically cleared off of the line and the Peacehaven keeper pulled off some stunning saves. It was wave after wave of attack but it was not to be their day.

Ross Allen's second half penalty is saved. ©Matt Bunn

With a couple of minutes left on the clock, Peacehaven launched a long ball up the field and Angus Mackay brought down the forward. It was clearly outside the area and he was not the last man. To compound their misery, Mackay was dismissed and Peacehaven scored from the resulting penalty. The final result was a 2-0 victory for Peacehaven. They remain top of the league and deserve to be promoted. Any team that can win by that score when under that much pressure deserves to win the title. For GFC it looks like a play off spot but with a performance like that under their belt, they have no one to fear.  I for one, cannot wait for the play offs!!

The game was played in beautiful surroundings. ©Matt Bunn

Guernsey FC

I have been Guernsey FC's club photographer now for three years, since they were elected into the non league football pyramid. I first met them whilst working with the FA on a trip to Croatia in 2010. They were representing England Amateurs and  playing in the UEFA Inter Regions Cup. When they  came up with the idea that they would be a club side I was delighted to be their photographer. They are a great bunch of lads and are good fun to be around. After living with the team for the best part of two weeks I had formed a lasting friendship with many of the players and the management.They have won back to back promotions and are now sailing highly in the Ryman South Division. This is step 4 of the non league pyramid. The club play at Footes lane and have an unbelievable fan base. The average crowd for this standard is around 80/100. Guernsey FC average over 1000 fans a game!! They also have their own TV channel and massive online merchandise.    

Glyn Dyer scores the first ever league goal for Guernsey FC against Knaphill at Footes Lane
©Matt Bunn

The club is run by the Chairman, Steve Dewsnip and the Secretary Mark Le Tissier, brother of former England international Matt Le Tissier. He is the President of the Football club.  

Matt Le Tissier in his one and only appearance for Guernsey FC
against Colliers Wood

                          

In the first season, they were double winners. They were champions of the Combined Counties League 1 and winners of the Premier cup. It was a great night and the final was played was at Farnborough Town's ground. Dom Heaume scored a brace and Guernsey beat Colliers Wood 2-0 to lift the trophy.

Top: Captain Sam Cochrane lifts the Combined Counties Premier Cup
Bottom: Directors Jeff Vidamour, Sara Mallet and Jez Robin flank Secretary Mark Le Tissier
Chairman Steve Dewsnip and President Matt Le Tissier with both trophies. ©Matt Bunn

The Island itself has embraced me and the press like my work enough for them to decide to run a story on me. This was a bit surreal but also great fun and something I shall look back on with great pride.

In the following season Guernsey entered the FA Vase for the first time. The resulting run was a fantastic adventure. Last minute winners, a broken leg to their star player Ryan Zico Black and massive crowds made sure this was a never to be forgotten cup experience. I covered a few of the games, the most memorable for me was the relatively short trip to Spalding in Lincolnshire for the Fifth Round tie. Spalding had spent a lot of money and were the favourites but Guernsey put on a fantastic display after going behind early on. Ross Allen and Matt Loaring scoring memorable goals to win 3-1.

Ross Allen celebrates with Dave rihoy after scoring against Spalding. ©Matt Bunn

This photograph below was taken by non league photographer Andy Nunn a couple of seconds after the above picture. I think it shows my absolute delight but not until I had the picture!

©Andy Nunn

Unfortunately the FA Vase run came to an end in the semi finals to Spennymoor, the eventual winners of the trophy. Guernsey then turned their attentions to the league and because of postponements and the cup run, it meant they had 24 league games to play in 40 days!!!

This made the news and even Sky Sports were on hand to cover a game.  They were there mainly to cover Matt le Tissier making his debut in one of the last games. It was a 4-2 defeat to Colliers Wood and this result made promotion look very tricky. The images of Guernsey and Matt le Tissier were in the Daily Mail, The Star and the Sun, 24 Seven and Four Four Two magazines. This was remarkable because at this point they were step 5 of the non league pyramid. Certainly having Matt Le Tissier as president helps to raise a profile but the club is superbly run.

Unbelievably, Guernsey went on to record win after win and on the final day of the season, after playing 4 games in four days and winning them all, they won promotion.

This season has seen them enter the FA cup for the first time and I was on hand to capture this. It was a baking hot day and they were drawn away to league leaders Crawley Down Gatwick. After losing their goalkeeper Chris tardif with concussion, they came out winners 3-1. At the final whistle, you could see on the players faces what it meant to them to play in the prestigious cup.

Matt Loaring scores Guernsey FC's first ever FA cup goal. ©Matt Bunn

The season has progressed in a lot less spectacular ways than the other two. They were knocked out of the FA Cup in the second qualifying round after losing 3-2 to Dover Athletic at a neutral ground. They also entered the FA Trophy for the first time but were knocked out in the first qualifying round to Billericay Town.

This has meant that they have been able to focus on league points. As this is being written, they lie in third place in the Ryman South and are looking good for a play off place. In their last ten games, they have won 8 - they are the form team!

It is my relationship with the management team, Tony Vance and Colin Fallaize that really helps me as well. Tony lets me into to the dressing room for unprecedented access. It was an honour to be in the room on the first day and I still love it. I only go in if I think it is important and I can get an image that tells the behind the scenes story. I am very aware that there is a thin line to becoming annoying and in the way. I regard them as friends and this makes working with them enjoyable. I know that Vancey does not like being photographed but I always try and get his good side.

Manager Tony Vance plots a victory at Merstham early in the season ©Matt Bunn

Assistant manager Colin Fallaize tells the players to find that extra 20%    ©Matt Bunn

I have been unable, due to work commitments with my agency and a lot of postponements to cover the team since late November but this is now behind us. On Saturday I covered the victory against Three Bridges and next week I am travelling down and staying with the team for a double header against Whitstable on the Thursday and then league leaders Peacehaven on Saturday. Bring it on!

Ross Allen scores his second goal in the 4-1 win against Three Bridges.   ©Matt Bunn

It is with great pride that I call myself club photographer to such a wonderful club. I have made lifelong friends and have taken my family over to the island on a couple of occasions. I hope that the relationship continues to blossom and the promotions and fun carry on. Come on you Green Lions!