Island Games 2023 Isle of Wight men's football team confident of gold

There's a women's team too, who we will feature later.

Over the next few weeks, the County Press will be introducing you to the athletes heading south, for the first games since Covid-19.

The Island Games will be held between July 8 and 14.

The men's football team who attended the kit launch were (pictured) — front row, from left, Joe Butcher, Josh Younie, Ryan Hughes, Liam Triggs, Tom McInnes, Finley Phillips, John Mckie and Nathan Lewis; and back, Josh Wakefield, Jordan Brown, Jimmy Mumford, Leon Pitman, Joe Craig, Connor Kelly, George Colson, Ryan Oatley, Joe Hancott, Adam Biss and Ed Hatt. 

Read more: 

• Meet Team Isle of Wight's archery competitors
• Isle of Wight Island Games teams unveils new kit

The men's team go to the Channel Islands with a squad lacking in Island Games experience, but that was down to the Isle of Wight not competing in the football event for eight years.

They also face the difficulties of managing squad rotation, having been handed three fixtures in three days during the group stages of the tournament, amid the prospect of playing in potentially 30C heat and with most players having just played a long Wessex League season, with cup competitions.

Isle of Wight team manager, Tom McInnes, has competed in three previous tournaments, all as a player, winning gold on home turf in 2011, and playing in Aland (Finland) and Jersey in 2015.

Team Isle of Wight's men's football manager, Tom McInnes, gives his squad the thumbs up to their chances of winning gold. (Image: Jon Moreno)

"Winning gold in 2011 was a great experience — especially with it being on the Isle of Wight," said Tom, who has managed the team since 2017.

"I was a player for all three and now I'm the manager, so I go to Guernsey a bit olderand wiser, with experience.

"I've won gold as a player, so to win gold as a manager as well would mean the world to me."

Andy Sampson did it in 1995 and 2011, so will be a tough act to follow.

Tom has spearheaded an impressive fundraising campaign, with £15,000 in the coffers.

"I've been dressed as a rabbit and dressed as an Oompa-Loompa, but we've managed to get the funds in, so now I'm actually looking forward to concentrating on the actual football side — taking the squad forward and working with Steve Brougham, my assistant, Andy North, my coach, and Abigail, my wife, the welfare officer and a nurse.

"I have to thank all those businesses and people who donated raffle prizes around the Island, which has helped enormously."

After such a long football season, it was important Tom's squad was refreshed before knocking them into shape.

Training started on Thursday last week, to allow players to go on holiday and relax with the season ending less than a month ago.

"Preparations are going well. The lads can play up to 60 games in a Wessex season, including cup competitions, so I wanted them back fresh. This is the start of their pre-season," Tom explains.

Few of the squad go to Guernsey with any previous Island Games experience.

"Where we haven't had a football tournament since 2015 — we're going back eight years, so most of the lads would've been in their early teens and not ready.

"John Mckie, won gold on the Isle of Wight, and Nathan Lewis and Ed Hatt have played in the Island Games.

"The Island Games is 100 per cent different to any kind of tournament they would've played in before.

"It is tournament football for a start. We've got three games in three days, so what I've said to the lads is that it's a squad game.

"We have 20 players who I feel could start a match — and any one of them can be used, because it's just impossible to play three games in three days.

"Some of them might have to though because of injuries, tiredness or however it comes along.

"The heat's the battle in the summer. When I played in Jersey, it was 30C all the time.

"But I'm looking forward to it and confident. I just hope they can settle into tournament conditions. It's obviously different, away from your family, but they've just got to manage themselves properly.

"I'm hoping the lads turn up. I'm hoping they respect me and everything we've put in place for them."

Nathan echoed Tom's sentiments.

He added: "We're hoping to bring back a gold medal. We believe in ourselves. Guernsey's the home island, so they'll be a challenge because they'll have big support."

Tom signs off with a message to his team and all the supporters following Team Isle of Wight.

"I'm hoping they will listen, enjoy and give me everything they've got. If it's good enough, I feel we can go all the way."