Football team 'buzzing' at Island Games call-up

The Isle of Man's women's football team claimed the bronze medal at the 2023 games

The Isle of Man's women's football team are "absolutely buzzing" after a reprieve that will see them play at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney.

The team had faced disappointment when they were selected as third reserve for the competition at the initial draw in September.

But after Guernsey's football teams pulled out amid travel and accommodation concerns, the squad was called up to the main draw by organisers.

Captain Becky Corkish said: "We were going to miss out on the chance of any medal, but now we want to get there and prove a point."

At the event in Guernsey in 2023, the side claimed the bronze medal and in August 2024 the players beat hosts Jersey at the inaugural inter-island cup on penalties.

Ms Corkish said not being selected had been a "bitter blow" because the squad "weren't going to get the chance to get that gold medal we've been trying to get for years".

When the team got the call up, and managers could confirm travel and accommodation, she said "it was amazing, because we just didn't expect it".

'Dig deep'

As there is no room on the chartered flight booked by organisers to the event, the captain said the players would be taking coaches and boats to get there instead.

"It's going to take us another day either side, but we don't mind because we're getting to play at a competition that really challenges the island team," she said.

"There's nothing to say we can't go the whole way, but we're obviously behind on training, we've just got to dig deep to get as fit as possible," she added.

The team will face Gozo, Frøya, and hosts Orkney in the early stages of the competition, set to take place from 12 to 18 July 2025.