Guernsey’ s New Home
shire Senior Cup. The commitment involved in joining an English based league was a whole different matter however, but in 2011 newly formed Guernsey FC decided to take the plunge, and they were handed a berth in the Step Six Combined Counties League Division One.
The Osmond Priaulx Memorial Playing Fields, more commonly referred to as Footes Lane, was opened as a running track in 1973. Situated not far from St Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey, it was extensively revamped in 2003 for the Island Games. This included the expenditure of £ 1.2 million on the Garenne Stand, a 720-seat cantilever structure, the addition of which immediately made Footes Lane the top sporting facility in Guernsey and relegated The Track into second place. We will discuss The Track in more detail later in
this issue, but at this point its stand was in need of renovation, and in any case, it already had a tenant in the shape of Priaulx Leage side Belgrave Wanderers. This left Footes Lane as the most viable venue for the new Guernsey FC club, the only caveat being its wide running track, which inevitably affected the viewing experience, though this was slightly addressed by allowing spectators to stand inside the running track at either end.
Three views of Footes Lane in 2014 Photos: Vince Taylor
Footes Lane in 2003 Photo: Bob Lilliman
Any anxieties the organisers might have had about the success of the new club were soon dispelled, Guernsey FC winning the Combined Counties League Division One title at the first attempt in 2011 / 12, and capturing the imagination of the Guernsey public, as evidenced by an average attendance of 1,310. More success followed the next season, when a second place finish in the Combined Counties League Premier Division earned them promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South East. This was almost accompanied by an appearance in the FA Vase Final at Wembley, Guernsey reaching the Semi-Final, when they were drawn against Spennymoor Town. The First Leg was held at Footes Lane and was watched by a near capacity Footes Lane crowd of 4,290. Unfortunately, Guernsey FC lost the tie 4-1 on aggregate, thus ending their dreams of a Wembley final in only their second season of existence.
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