It’s been almost a century since Alderney FC last won a game in the Channel Islands’ Muratti Vase. City News joined the team for this years tournament as they sought to end 99 years of hurt.
Alderney is the third largest channel island. Closer to France than to England, it has a population of only 17,000 and is three miles long and one and a half wide.
It has one school and the fire service is part time.
The sleepy island has all the makings of a murder mystery. The perfect setting – abandoned lighthouses nestle in the hilltops, littered with fortifications and 19th century castles are embedded into the grey rocky coastline.
The island, occupied by the Nazis in WW2, is rich in history and the last place you would expect to find a blossoming football team.
Tucked away on one side of the island lies the ground of the Alderney Nomads.
The pitch is a perfect scoop lifted out of the rugged terrain with the rough sea as a back drop.
The team play weekly in the domestic Priaulx league which is made out of individual Guernsey teams.
But this is a story about a different competition, with different stakes – this is about a painful 99 years in the Muratti Vase.
Alderney Fishing trailer
The competition
The Muratti Vase is an annual football competition played between the three larger Channel Islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney.
Each year either Guernsey or Jersey play a preliminary semi-final against Alderney.
For Jersey and Guernsey, the semi-final is considered a banana skin match, a potential slip-up, but for Alderney the match has become a curse.
Alderney have not won a match in the competition since 1920.
However, this year, Alderney went into the game joint top of the Priaulx league and feeling they were in with a chance.
Seeking to rewrite history, they played Jersey in the semi-final on the 25 March 2019. This is the story of their build-up.
The Lifeblood: Six days before Muratti Vase semi-final
Josh Concanen: Alderney FC coach player and manager
For Josh Concanen: player, coach and manager of Alderney FC, winning a game would be a dream come true.
The stoic 26-year-old is dedicated to one thing – hard work. Born in Alderney, Concanen dreamed of bigger things and moved with his family to England aged 11 to begin his playing days as part of the Exeter City youth system.
After struggling to transition into the senior squad he then found success at Tiverton FC, a semi-professional side in South West England. He spent three seasons there and established himself as an integral part of the first team.
But something was missing; Concanen moved back to Alderney aged 20 and has been focused on transforming Alderney into professional outfit.
‘We have been working tirelessly for four years now,’ he says. The lifeblood of Alderney Football Club, Concanen has been dreaming of Muratti success since he moved to England.
‘That is what I am back here for, the history of it, 99 years, nearly 100 years – you don’t get to do that every day, I mean it beats what I am doing right now. Concanen’s day job is labouring with his father.
The Chairman: Five days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
The jovial chairman, Reg Atkins, adopts multiple roles within the club.
Big bellied and proud, Atkins, formerly the commercial manager, understands the financial struggles of being a small island football team.
Alderney Nomads, who play two-thirds of their games off island every season, rely heavily on ‘the help of the community, player sponsorships and sponsorship boards’.
Atkins understands that Alderney run the club in an unorthodox manner; league meetings are attended by Skype and when the team play away they play twice, first on Friday evening and then on Saturday afternoon.
Looking ahead to the game against Jersey, Atkins puts the enormity of Saturday’s task into perspective.
‘In Alderney between the ages of 16 to 34, there are only about one hundred males to choose from, but Jersey has a population of 105,000.’
The Captain: Four days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Ross Benfield, who works in finance as well as being the Alderney captain, has played for the club since he was six.
Benfield, a childhood friend of Josh Concanen, left the island only briefly to study at Southampton University.
Even throughout his studies Benfield played in every Muratti Vase, as he had since he was 16. While reminiscing about the past fixtures, Benfield talks of the heavy losses and in one match being down 7-0 at half-time.
Since Concanen’s return, things have changed dramatically and the club have come a long way. Only two years ago Alderney were drawing 1-1 until Jersey scored a 93rd minute winner.
While the team have found success in the Priaulx league Benfield says there is a real belief this year and that ‘the disappointment (of losing) is growing and it would just be more of a relief to win one of these games after so many years’.
The Journalist: Three days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
David Nash has appointed himself as the team photographer and writes the match reports for the Alderney Press.
Nash stresses that there is little to do on the island for youngsters and praises the dedication the team has put into their football as inspiration for generations to come.
He says the number one economic issue on the island is the cost of flights and says the team is in danger of folding due to the extortionate air fares.
It costs a team £2000 to cover costs when playing in Guernsey and the Guernsey teams share the same problem when they fly to us,’ he says.
Nash says the team are ‘essential to the island for the public relations and so important when keeping the young people occupied’.
The Old Friend: Two days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Josh McCulloch flies back every year for the Muratti Vase and has done so since he was 16.
McChulloch left the island when he was younger, starting a new life and working in a Lloyds Bank in Southampton. In England, McCulloch has kept up his football with a local non-league side.
When asked to come back to play, McCulloch has to get special permission from the manager of his non league side but once he gets on the plane he ‘zones in and realises he is going to a different world’.
McCulloch says to win the Muratti this year would be amazing, ‘to put a smile on everyone’s face and particularly my family’s’.
The Soul: One day before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Alderney Legends talking to City News
The Muratti pain spans across multiple decades.
The heartbreak has become part of the culture. Since 1920, every Alderney team has had to learn to lose. Alderney FC legends, John William Morris (known as ‘Mookie’ to the islanders) and Billy Bowen watch every Muratti match hoping the curse will finally give.
But the two ex-players know how hard it is. Mookie played as a midfielder in seven Muratti matches across the 1970s while Bowen shared the pitch in goal.
When I ask Mookie what he thought about Guernsey and Jersey, he looks up at me and says, ‘I would rather not comment’, his rye smile masking the endless pain of losing.
Bowen is desperate for the team to win because he points out that ‘the tickets for the final are already printed with the names Guernsey and Jersey, but this year when Alderney win they’ll be stuck and it would give me great joy to unstick’em’.
Game day: The Muratti Vase Semi Final
Alderney FC huddle before semi-final
For Alderney, the Muratti isn’t just about the football, it’s about the island. Fans in blue and white colours stream over the hills towards the pitch in preparation for the game.
Everyone has come out to show their support, pub landlords, business owners, family and friends – the average league game attracts only a handful of supporters, but for the Muratti there are more than 300.
A hot dog van begins trade but the game is delayed due to the Jersey team’s delayed flight. Jersey arrive dressed in red and bleed into the green landscape. For Jersey football is their profession; for Alderney, their passion.
The teams warm up and the cameras start to film. After the endless anticipation, they kick-off. Blue versus red, island versus island.
The hope of Alderney washing away 99 years of pain seems unlikely when Jersey take a lead in the first half. Alderney give away a reckless penalty and Jersey take a 2-0 lead.
The second half is desperate and an Alderney chance is sliced over the bar. The final whistle blows and aches begin to show.
The crowd grumble and as they slowly make their way home you can hear the voices say, ‘next year, we’ll do it next next year’.
Alderney Fan and flag
As the Muratti fever begins to calm, the players and fans start their working week; the sense of pride only dented for an afternoon.
The team will work harder next year, the curse in the dressing room will drive the players to success.
But as Josh Concanen looks back at Saturday’s loss he says the only thing that is important is the ‘the island, the fans, the ex players, that’s who we do it for’.
In his eyes he can see Muratti glory and who knows, next year, after one hundred years, he could be able to feel it.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineAlderney FC: 99 Years of Hurt in the Muratti Vase
Short HeadlineAlderney FC: 99 Years of Hurt
StandfirstWithout a win in 99 years, City Investigates followed Alderney FC as they sought to break their duck in the Muratti Vase.
It’s been almost a century since Alderney FC last won a game in the Channel Islands’ Muratti Vase. City News joined the team for this years tournament as they sought to end 99 years of hurt.
Alderney is the third largest channel island. Closer to France than to England, it has a population of only 17,000 and is three miles long and one and a half wide.
It has one school and the fire service is part time.
The sleepy island has all the makings of a murder mystery. The perfect setting – abandoned lighthouses nestle in the hilltops, littered with fortifications and 19th century castles are embedded into the grey rocky coastline.
The island, occupied by the Nazis in WW2, is rich in history and the last place you would expect to find a blossoming football team.
Tucked away on one side of the island lies the ground of the Alderney Nomads.
The pitch is a perfect scoop lifted out of the rugged terrain with the rough sea as a back drop.
The team play weekly in the domestic Priaulx league which is made out of individual Guernsey teams.
But this is a story about a different competition, with different stakes – this is about a painful 99 years in the Muratti Vase.
Alderney Fishing trailer
The competition
The Muratti Vase is an annual football competition played between the three larger Channel Islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney.
Each year either Guernsey or Jersey play a preliminary semi-final against Alderney.
For Jersey and Guernsey, the semi-final is considered a banana skin match, a potential slip-up, but for Alderney the match has become a curse.
Alderney have not won a match in the competition since 1920.
However, this year, Alderney went into the game joint top of the Priaulx league and feeling they were in with a chance.
Seeking to rewrite history, they played Jersey in the semi-final on the 25 March 2019. This is the story of their build-up.
The Lifeblood: Six days before Muratti Vase semi-final
Josh Concanen: Alderney FC coach player and manager
For Josh Concanen: player, coach and manager of Alderney FC, winning a game would be a dream come true.
The stoic 26-year-old is dedicated to one thing – hard work. Born in Alderney, Concanen dreamed of bigger things and moved with his family to England aged 11 to begin his playing days as part of the Exeter City youth system.
After struggling to transition into the senior squad he then found success at Tiverton FC, a semi-professional side in South West England. He spent three seasons there and established himself as an integral part of the first team.
But something was missing; Concanen moved back to Alderney aged 20 and has been focused on transforming Alderney into professional outfit.
‘We have been working tirelessly for four years now,’ he says. The lifeblood of Alderney Football Club, Concanen has been dreaming of Muratti success since he moved to England.
‘That is what I am back here for, the history of it, 99 years, nearly 100 years – you don’t get to do that every day, I mean it beats what I am doing right now. Concanen’s day job is labouring with his father.
The Chairman: Five days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
The jovial chairman, Reg Atkins, adopts multiple roles within the club.
Big bellied and proud, Atkins, formerly the commercial manager, understands the financial struggles of being a small island football team.
Alderney Nomads, who play two-thirds of their games off island every season, rely heavily on ‘the help of the community, player sponsorships and sponsorship boards’.
Atkins understands that Alderney run the club in an unorthodox manner; league meetings are attended by Skype and when the team play away they play twice, first on Friday evening and then on Saturday afternoon.
Looking ahead to the game against Jersey, Atkins puts the enormity of Saturday’s task into perspective.
‘In Alderney between the ages of 16 to 34, there are only about one hundred males to choose from, but Jersey has a population of 105,000.’
The Captain: Four days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Ross Benfield, who works in finance as well as being the Alderney captain, has played for the club since he was six.
Benfield, a childhood friend of Josh Concanen, left the island only briefly to study at Southampton University.
Even throughout his studies Benfield played in every Muratti Vase, as he had since he was 16. While reminiscing about the past fixtures, Benfield talks of the heavy losses and in one match being down 7-0 at half-time.
Since Concanen’s return, things have changed dramatically and the club have come a long way. Only two years ago Alderney were drawing 1-1 until Jersey scored a 93rd minute winner.
While the team have found success in the Priaulx league Benfield says there is a real belief this year and that ‘the disappointment (of losing) is growing and it would just be more of a relief to win one of these games after so many years’.
The Journalist: Three days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
David Nash has appointed himself as the team photographer and writes the match reports for the Alderney Press.
Nash stresses that there is little to do on the island for youngsters and praises the dedication the team has put into their football as inspiration for generations to come.
He says the number one economic issue on the island is the cost of flights and says the team is in danger of folding due to the extortionate air fares.
It costs a team £2000 to cover costs when playing in Guernsey and the Guernsey teams share the same problem when they fly to us,’ he says.
Nash says the team are ‘essential to the island for the public relations and so important when keeping the young people occupied’.
The Old Friend: Two days before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Josh McCulloch flies back every year for the Muratti Vase and has done so since he was 16.
McChulloch left the island when he was younger, starting a new life and working in a Lloyds Bank in Southampton. In England, McCulloch has kept up his football with a local non-league side.
When asked to come back to play, McCulloch has to get special permission from the manager of his non league side but once he gets on the plane he ‘zones in and realises he is going to a different world’.
McCulloch says to win the Muratti this year would be amazing, ‘to put a smile on everyone’s face and particularly my family’s’.
The Soul: One day before the Muratti Vase semi-final
Alderney Legends talking to City News
The Muratti pain spans across multiple decades.
The heartbreak has become part of the culture. Since 1920, every Alderney team has had to learn to lose. Alderney FC legends, John William Morris (known as ‘Mookie’ to the islanders) and Billy Bowen watch every Muratti match hoping the curse will finally give.
But the two ex-players know how hard it is. Mookie played as a midfielder in seven Muratti matches across the 1970s while Bowen shared the pitch in goal.
When I ask Mookie what he thought about Guernsey and Jersey, he looks up at me and says, ‘I would rather not comment’, his rye smile masking the endless pain of losing.
Bowen is desperate for the team to win because he points out that ‘the tickets for the final are already printed with the names Guernsey and Jersey, but this year when Alderney win they’ll be stuck and it would give me great joy to unstick’em’.
Game day: The Muratti Vase Semi Final
Alderney FC huddle before semi-final
For Alderney, the Muratti isn’t just about the football, it’s about the island. Fans in blue and white colours stream over the hills towards the pitch in preparation for the game.
Everyone has come out to show their support, pub landlords, business owners, family and friends – the average league game attracts only a handful of supporters, but for the Muratti there are more than 300.
A hot dog van begins trade but the game is delayed due to the Jersey team’s delayed flight. Jersey arrive dressed in red and bleed into the green landscape. For Jersey football is their profession; for Alderney, their passion.
The teams warm up and the cameras start to film. After the endless anticipation, they kick-off. Blue versus red, island versus island.
The hope of Alderney washing away 99 years of pain seems unlikely when Jersey take a lead in the first half. Alderney give away a reckless penalty and Jersey take a 2-0 lead.
The second half is desperate and an Alderney chance is sliced over the bar. The final whistle blows and aches begin to show.
The crowd grumble and as they slowly make their way home you can hear the voices say, ‘next year, we’ll do it next next year’.
Alderney Fan and flag
As the Muratti fever begins to calm, the players and fans start their working week; the sense of pride only dented for an afternoon.
The team will work harder next year, the curse in the dressing room will drive the players to success.
But as Josh Concanen looks back at Saturday’s loss he says the only thing that is important is the ‘the island, the fans, the ex players, that’s who we do it for’.
In his eyes he can see Muratti glory and who knows, next year, after one hundred years, he could be able to feel it.
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