Footballers 'determined' to go for gold at games

The captain of a women's football team initially left out of the 2025 Island Games has said the squad is "determined" to bring home the gold medal after a late call-up for the event.

The team had faced disappointment after being picked as third reserve for the contest in Orkney in September's initial draw, but was given a reprieve in January when Guernsey's football teams pulled out.

Becky Corkish said, despite the late inclusion, there was "no reason why we can't come out on top" after claiming bronze at the last games in 2023.

"The girls deserve it. We've been through a lot this year with disappointment at not being selected at first and then starting training later than other teams," she said.

At Guernsey games two year's ago the side secured third place in the contest, and went on to beat hosts Jersey at the inaugural inter-island cup on penalties the following August.

"I think there's quite a lot of pressure on us, people expect us to medal because our track record, but there's no reason why we can't come out on top", Corkish said.

But training for the event has not been the only part of the team's preparations ahead of the games that has been disrupted by the late call-up - getting to the event has been an issue too.

As the chartered flight for the Manx team had already booked, the players face a 20-hour journey to get their destination.

That includes a flight to Manchester, followed by an onward connection to Aberdeen, before a coach journey to the local port to catch a six-hour ferry to Orkney.

Corkish said she was "so proud of how hard the team have worked" in the run up to the games by "putting the time in and finding the funds to get there at shorter notice".

"It's a credit to how much they want to represent the Isle of Man," she said.

"We thought we were going to miss out, but the girls are taking the challenges in their stride and now I want them to take every moment of the experience in.

"Personally I'm missing gold from my collection, I've got bronze and silver from the games, and I think the girls are determined to come out on top."

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

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