Jersey tour 2026

Friday 10th April

Wow, it's gone so quickly. Last game day and the Blues are up first against Jersey A while the Yellows play Wokingham again. Should be a fun day.

Thursday 9th April
Today was the day that Ossie and TJ stepped up to take the days games and it started oh so well as the Yellows beat Newbury B 6-0, with goals coming from David Olariu 2, Theo Callum, Oscar Poole, Jacob "the milkman" Pytel and Baxter Burns. 
Baxter was also given POM, not just for his constant talking and encouragement but the way he led the team and a lot of attacks started through him.
It then went horribly wrong as the funny pitch positions such as goal hole protector, confused everyone, including the maths teacher, and the Blues went 3-0 down again Jersey B. They were then sacked mid match and Sprattacus took over for the reminder of the game. Jake Ashton did score just before half time and it looked like the Blues would come back into the game but it wasn't to be as they conceded 2 more goals, and even a long range effort from Oskar Kurmanbekov, couldn't produce a great comeback. Final score was 5=2. POM was given to Ben Bailey for his tireless running in the blues efforts to recover.
Swimming was its usual fun and it was bowling night. There was a massive surprise as Frankie Poll took the honours with a score of 140, closely followed by Charlie Hope, who's 130 was prematurely ended as the machine didn't recognise a spare!! All the adults were trailing in their wake as they steamed ahead. Oscar Poole and Theo Callum looked odds on favourites until they played like Arsenal in a cup final and choked in the last stages. Fun night was had by all and the lads all earned an extra 30 minutes free time.

Wednesday 8th April
Once more the weather was fantastic and the sun came up early to shed light on another morning on this fantastic island. A full English and then a charcuterie, plus at least one player with 10 pancakes and Nutella!!
Tough but entertaining morning at FB fields today as the blues came up against Newbury and the Yellows against Wokingham. 
Both were good quick games of football but the blues had their first defeat of Jersey 26 as they went down by a single goal. The blues pressed, harried and created several good chances but it just wouldn’t go in as the ball flew across the box several times without a blues touch. POM was Jordan Rapp-Gibbons & Hugo Kirkup. 
The yellows were battered and bruised against Wokingham and went down 2-0 to a scrappy and a well taken free kick. There was little to choose between the sides but Wokingham finished their chances and the yellows didn’t. That’s football.
POM was Oscar Poole.
The afternoon was another KFC - TJ and Ossie are now known members and they are welcomed with glee knowing that £100 is about to be spent.
Gorey was the destination for the sandcastle competition and plenty of designs were on show, they weren't going to be an Picasso's but they were pretty good efforts in the hour that they had. It was the swimming pool next - the most popular event of the day and the lads bullied Sprattacus in the lazy river, making him cry and hide away embarrassed for the next 40 minutes. 
Ossie is looking rather red as he loves basking in the sun, Nick has a reddish head and TJ and Sprattacus are always looking to get into the pool for a splash around.
Tonight is also Bingo Night and so it's gonna be a fun packed loud evening. The bingo was held outside and it looked like it may end up as in the dark bingo and torches were put on as the floodlights failed to light the area. 
Question time in Nick's room followed before the lads went to have a well earned rest and sleep.

Tuesday 7th April
The 3rd day was a scorcher and a temperature of 24 degrees didn’t stop the young saints compiling 2 wins against Jersey and East Cornwall respectively.
The parents turned up looking a bit worse for wear but promised that they would be even more heavily hangover the next day. Copious amounts of alcohol and food are being sampled at various restaurants and bars - pool was a popular event and I have heard that there has been darts along the way as well.
It is fantastic to see so many parents and siblings and they have been rewarded so far with sun, sea, sand, Prosecco, lager and 5 wins out of 6. 
The Yellows were up first on the coveted Wembley pitch at FB fields and dominated the opening exchanges but failing to take advantage. Jack Williams went close twice, as did Theo Callum and Carter Thomas. 
The 2nd half started the same and this time the goal was taken by Jack Williams as Henry Horwood broke on the right and played a good pass into Jack’s feet, he steadied himself and hit the bottom corner.
POM was Nathan Noka and Oscar Poole.
The Blues continued their good form as they beat East Cornwall with goals coming from Thomas Wainer and Jake Ashton. 
The Blues and East Cornwall traded blows and it was a tight but quite open game as both teams attacked with vigour. 
Thomas Wainer opened the scoring, flicking in from Alby Jolley’s cross and Jake Ashton doubled the lead by tapping in from an Alex Shaw cross. 
POM was Hugo Kirkup. 
The afternoon was spent at St Brelades beach and then even more swimming at the aquadome to get rid of all the sand before the next feast.
A child friendly version of Mr & Mrs is planned for the evening and we reckon that the winners will be Ossie and TJ........


Monday 6th April
Had a couple of visitors overnight, but it was early on and not for the reasons you'd think. The question was "when is the music being turned off?" as it was quite lively in the bar - I did think it was our parents, but it turns out they were singing West Ham songs...... No one in their right mind from St Albans supports them.
Today, St Albans play Newbury. Both teams. COYS. Results to follow.
Well the results went as we hoped with the Yellows recovering from yesterday with a dominant victory over Newbury.
Goals from Carter Thomas, Frankie Poll, George Roe and POM Theo Callum gave the boys their first win this tour. 
The Blues soon followed and eventually won 4-2 after going 2 down. The panic on Tom Spratt's face told a story as he changed tactics after underestimating the opposition at the start. Poor game management was the general consensus amongst the hordes of St Albans supporters. When he got his act together and stopped being a diva, the Blues won 4-2 with Jake Ashton and Alex Shaw getting their normal goals added to by POM Thomas Wainer's brace. 
Greve du Lac was next, with more football (surprise surprise) and then back to the hotel for a swimming session where the boys spent their time chasing girls around the pool who they claimed kept on DING DONG DITCHING them last night. Not sure about that one. 
Dinner time came and went with the mountains of food being consumed very quickly, in readiness for the Karaoke evening. Some have already been doing throat exercises so they give their best performance.

Sunday 5th April
Well, today didn't go as planned. Well nearly, the Blues made it through to a cup final courtesy of a solid 4=2 win over Gloucester B while the Yellows faced a stronger than expected Orpington, which resulted in a 5-0 loss. Ossie smashed into the injured Sprattacus while running the line, causing him to limp more than usual but he made up for that later by slipping in the shower and banged his eye, taking his mind off the club foot, so able to walk semi normally. Who knows what's gonna happen today with the 3 degrees! Stuart must wonder how they actually survive in life.
The weather didn't act like promised either. The sun came out unexpectedly so the plans changed and we went to there san dunes, for hour of fun and mucking around while the coaches, including Ossie for the first ever time, drank coffee!!!
I can only imagine the bars and restaurants that the parents had frequented on a warmish spring day and how they will feel tomorrow morning after being on the Leo Sayer - all day drinking session in Cockney rhyming slang for those who don't know. Of course, it's something I know nothing about. 
Dinner was the feast it promised to be with not just beef, but turkey available as well. Shocking really, I thought it was a Christmas thing, but I guess I put weight on then as well.
It was quiz night and the results are pending a stewards enquiry as a couple of rooms were deducted points for various reasons. I have my suspicions who won but TJ and Ossie know for sure - some favouritism may have been shown to those who greeted them best during the room inspections......

We do have a milk thief........ Even taking the milk from Nick's room so he couldn't have a morning cup of tea. Luckily room 207 came to the rescue......

Saturday 4th April
Well, Jersey 26 is finally here.
Today had everything. Early start, seamless transition through Luton airport, which in itself is a miracle. No one lost their boarding cards, but a man bag was lost on the plane!! Cards to be cancelled but at least we discovered it early. 
Pleasant 40 minute flight, got the minibus keys from Pat and made our way to pick them up. A tight fit with some of the suitcases big enough to fit clothes for 2 weeks plus the children themselves, and we were off to The Merton.
Rooms were of a sufficient standard for children of St Albans, but then the big hammer blow. 
THE FOOD........ Wow. Buffet consisting of everything you could need. It was a definite 3 plater, except for TJ, who went back for a 4th. Some of the players ate more than their bodyweight.
We will feed well and I know I'll put at least a stone on, which I can't afford. 
All the lads slept well and we had no sleep interruptions. A great start to the week. Long may it continue.
Coaches meeting went and finished. Then TJ tried to teach Ossie how to play pool, even though Ossie is massively more skilled with a cue. An early night/morning!