FC Isle of Man is delighted to be part of a new sporting partnership with Guernsey FC and the Guernsey licensed bank, Skipton International. The deal means that the two island based teams will contest The Skipton Cup on an annual basis for the next three years.
The first Skipton Cup will take place on September 12 at Guernsey FC’s Footes Lane venue and follows the success of the Green Lion’s landmark visit to FC Isle of Man earlier this month.
Both clubs are keen to take advantage of the unique and ever-burgeoning relationship the two islands have formed.
FC Isle of Man Commercial Manager, Ty Smith, is excited about the upcoming fixture and brand-new annual trophy:
It is really exciting for the club to compete again against the Green Lions. With a bit more at stake this time in the inaugural Skipton Cup, it promises to be an exciting game for both sets of fans.
FC Isle of Man, Guernsey FC and Skipton International are all organisations which build strategically and plan for the future. Setting this Cup up as an integral part of both clubs’ pre-season preparations for the years to come will not only provide both sets of supporters with a ‘Crown-Dependency Derby’ to look forward to, but will provide both with shared economic benefits and demonstrates Skipton International’s commitment to supporting both communities.
Skipton International Managing Director, Jim Coupe, said:
As an award-winning island bank, we appreciate the complexities of sporting life on a small island. The annual Skipton Cup matches between Guernsey FC and FC Isle of Man will ensure the competitive edge between the two will endure, providing sporting excellence for fans across both Crown Dependencies.
We already have a number of savers residing in the Isle of Man, and look forward to welcoming some of them, and their friends, to Guernsey over the coming years.
GFC Director Nic Legg said:
After the friendships we made in the Isle of Man we couldn’t wait to welcome the Ravens to Guernsey and hope that, just like the Manxies did, Guernsey fans will turn out in numbers on 12 September to make it a celebration of our club’s first home game since February.
This brand-new Skipton Cup is something we will all be able to look back on fondly in years to come as an oasis of sporting joy amid challenging times.
