Jersey Bulls F.C.

Jersey Bulls Football Club is a football club located in Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. They are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Springfield Stadium.

Jersey Bulls
Full nameJersey Bulls Football Club
Nickname(s)The Bulls
Founded7 August 2018[1]
GroundSpringfield Stadium, Saint Helier
Capacity2,000 (982 seated)[2][3]
ChairmanRussell Le Feuvre
ManagerGary Freeman
LeagueCombined Counties League Premier Division South
2022–23Combined Counties League Premier Division South, 3rd of 20
WebsiteClub website

History
Location of Jersey

The Jersey Football Combination, operated by the Jersey Football Association, has been the top level of football in the island of Jersey since 1975 and operates with 13 teams in two leagues, Premiership and Championship. Although affiliated with The Football Association, the league does not form part of the English football league system with teams unable to progress from the Jersey Football Combination or enter any cups, unless invited. The league leaders from Jersey would play the league leaders from the Guernsey Priaulx League in the Upton Park Trophy.

In 2015 the Jersey Football Association applied to UEFA and FIFA to allow them to play other teams, in a similar arrangement to Gibraltar. This was rejected on the basis Jersey was not an independent country.[4] A Parishes of Jersey football team was formed and applied and accepted to ConIFA to play international matches with other teams not able to join UEFA and FIFA.[5]

Jersey Bulls Football Club was formed on 7 August 2018, and in September it was announced that the club would apply to join the English football league system,[6] via The Football Association. In November 2018, The Football Association approved the club's bid to join Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2019–20 season.[7]

Former Muratti Vase winner Gary Freeman was appointed as the club's first manager in January 2019. Freeman was manager at St Peter from February 2015 and took on the Jersey Bulls role from the end of the 2018–19 season.[8]

The first eight fixtures of the league were announced by the Combined Counties Football League on 5 June to allow clubs preparation in booking transport to or from Jersey, with Ash United being the first team to visit Jersey and Deportivo Galicia being the first away fixture.[9]

Jersey Bulls announced on 13 June 2019 that they had signed 30 players at the beginning of the season with all players dual registered with their current clubs in Jersey.[10]

Abandoned 2019–20 season

The 2019–20 season started with two friendly games, the first with League Two side Stevenage on 6 July which was won by Stevenage 3–4,[11] followed by Leicester City Under-23's on 16 July won by Leicester 3–0.[12]

Their 2019–20 league campaign in the Combined Counties League Division One began with a 3–0 win over Ash United.[13] By 16 November they had 15 straight victories in all competitions.[14] Their 16th victory came on 23 November in a 7–0 victory,[15] and after their 19th victory on 16 December they were 24 points clear at the top of the table.[16] They ended 2019 with their 20th straight victory, despite their flight being delayed by two hours and the coach being delayed in traffic and running onto the pitch straight from the coach, they beat Farnham Town 2–0[17] and began 2020 with another victory, their 21st straight win.[18]

On 7 March 2020, Forward Lorne Bickley signed a short-term contract with National League side Hartlepool United.[19] The next day Jersey Bulls set a new record in the Combined Counties League on 27 consecutive wins, beating Withdean 2000's record which was set during the 2002–03 season.[20] With 81 points on the table, they were statistically eligible for promotion to step 5 football.[21] A few days later, most sporting leagues in the United Kingdom were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was later confirmed that the Combined Counties League had been abandoned with all results null and voided.[22] On 30 March 2020, Jersey Bulls were one of sixty-six non-league clubs who sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision.[23] The request within this letter was denied and Jersey Bulls would return to Division One for the 2020–21 season.

2020–21 season

On 5 September, Jersey Bulls began their second season in Division One away to Bedford & Feltham with a 4–1 victory.[24] The Bulls would subsequently defeat British Airways 2–0, Fleet Spurs 1-0 and Ash United 3–2, all away from home. Jersey Bulls are again unbeaten in Division One as of 1 January 2021, extending their unbeaten run to 31 games under inaugural manager Gary Freeman. In March the Football Association announced that the 2020–21 season at Step 3 to step 7 would be curtailed, prematurely ending Jersey Bulls' second season in Division One again.[25] However, the FA later confirmed that the planned restructuring of the National League System would take place as planned, with teams allowed to apply for promotion.[26]

Colours and badge

In September 2018, the club announced their logo and kit,[27] stating:

"Our logo and proposed home kit, reflects our proud Jersey roots and the island's dairy heritage. Jersey may be most famous for its cows, but they'd be nowhere without the bulls. The bull is animated to show our passion for football, passion for Jersey and its community, and our desire to make this football club succeed. The kit and logo is red and white, obvious Jersey colours, and also includes a nod to the Jersey flag."

The home kit is a white shirt with a red cross, resembling the Flag of Jersey, with red shorts and socks, whilst the away kit is a red shirt with white shorts and socks. In April 2020, The Bulls launched a competition to choose the third kit and the winning designed was announced on 1 May 2020 on their social media as a dark blue shirt with pink trim, based on the colours of their second biggest sponsor, Butterfield Bank.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit supplier Shirt sponsor
2019–2020 Kappa CPA Global [28]
2021–2022 SHUFL Capital [29]
2023-Present JTC Group [30]
Jersey Bulls at Springfield Stadium

Stadium
Main article: Springfield Stadium

The club play at Springfield Stadium in St. Helier. Although situated in St. Helier, the stadium is about one mile from the town centre.

First used by the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) as a showground in 1885 for agricultural shows and was first used for the Muratti Vase in 1905 and has been held regularly since the 1930s, with a few exceptions. The RJA&HS proposed a sale in 1993 for housing development but was bought by the Sport, Leisure and Recreation Committee of the States Assembly stepped in the preserve it for sports and brought the site in December 1994.

The capacity of the stadium holds up to 7,000 spectators and the grandstand, built in 1997, has seating for 992.

The stadium and the multi-purpose sports facility attached to it is owned by the Government of Jersey, and is also home to the Jersey Football Association and the Jersey official football team. A children's play area and an all-weather ball court was also built within the park.

Players

The club currently operates a squad rotation policy, allowing the players to represent their respective Jersey FA league clubs when called upon. Channel Islander-born players are eligible to play for any of the Home Nations.[10]

Current squad
As of 9 March 2020[31]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Scotland SCO Robbie Scott
— GK England ENG Euan Van Der Vliet
— GK England ENG Jonny Willows
— DF England ENG Harry Curtis
— DF Scotland SCO Luke Campbell
— DF England ENG James Carr
— DF England ENG Jay Giles
— DF England ENG Jack Griffin
— DF England ENG Sammy Sutcliff
— DF England ENG James Queree
— MF England ENG Johnny Le Quesne
— MF England ENG Ruben Mendes-Pestana
— MF England ENG Kamen Nafkha
— MF England ENG Joe Kilshaw
— MF England ENG Luca Margaroli
— FW England ENG Fraser Barlow
— FW England ENG Harry Cardwell
— FW England ENG Sol Solomon
— FW England ENG Kieran Lester
— FW England ENG Jake Prince
— FW England ENG Lorne Bickley
— FW England ENG Daryl Wilson

Club officials

Source:[32]

Boardroom staff
Position Name
ChairmanEngland Russell Le Feuvre
SecretaryEngland John Treleven
CEOEngland Ian Horswell

First-team coaching staff
Position Name
ManagerEngland Gary Freeman
Assistant ManagerEngland Kevan Nelson
First Team CoachEngland Dan Seviour
Fitness CoachEngland Joe Parkinson
Goalkeeping CoachEngland Richard Hebert
PhysioEngland Jim Robertson
NutritionistEngland Kit Chamier
AnalystEngland Sam Bickley

Management history

Stats as of 5 December 2021, league games only

Name From To Duration Games Won Drawn Lost Win % Honors Notes
England Gary Freeman 1 June 2019 Present 4 years, 148 days 49 45 3 1 091.84 [8]

Records

League

Goals

Attendance
  • Highest attendance: 1611 – Chertsey Town 3 October 2021
  • Lowest attendance: 545 – Fleet Spurs, 11 January 2020 [35]
  • Seasons average highest attendance:

Player
Most Competitive Hat-tricks
Number of Hat-tricks Player Name Opposition(s)
3 Sol Solomon Chessington & Hook United[37]

Horsham YMCA F.C.[38]

Crowborough Athletic F.C.[39]

1 Karl Hinds FC Deportivo Galicia[36]
1 Lorne Bickley Horsham YMCA F.C.[38]
  • Most league goals in a season: 19, Karl Hinds (as of 28 February 2020)
  • All-Time Leading Goalscorers:
Rank Player Name Goals Position
1 Sol Solomon 60 FWD
2 Lorne Bickley 33 FWD
3 Fraser Barlow 32 FWD
4 Luke Campbell 25 DEF
5 Karl Hinds 19 FWD
6 Kieran Lester 15 MID
Jonny Le Quesne 15 DEF
8 Daryl Wilson 13 FWD
9 Harry Cardwell 12 FWD
10 Jake Prince 11 FWD

See also

References
  1. "Entity Detail". JFSC Companies Registry. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. "Springfield | Active.je". www.active.je. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. Jersey, States of. "Government of Jersey". gov.je. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. "Jersey's bid for UEFA membership rejected". Jersey Evening Post. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. "'Parishes of Jersey' accepted into Conifa". ITV News. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. "Jersey Bulls: Newly-formed island side hope to join English football pyramid". BBC Sport. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. "Jersey Bulls get FA approval for Combined Counties League bid". BBC Sport. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. Fox, Jason (24 January 2019). "Freeman: 'No limits' to Bulls ambition". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  9. "Opening Fixtures For Jersey Bulls". 13 June 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  10. "Jersey Bulls sign-up 30 players ahead of debut season". ITV News. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  11. "Jersey Bulls 3:4 Stevenage". Jersey Bulls. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  12. "Jersey Bulls 0:3 Leicester City U23". Jersey Bulls. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  13. "Jersey Bulls: New side aim for promotion after first-ever win in English league". 5 August 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "Jersey Bulls beat Epsom and Ewell to register 15th-straight league win". 16 November 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. "Jersey Bulls beat Cove 7-0 to record 16th successive league victory". 23 November 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. "Jersey Bulls 'ride storm' to record 19th-straight league win". 16 December 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. "Jersey Bulls: 20th win for islanders despite running to pitch from bus after travel delays". 30 December 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  18. "Jersey Bulls beat Cove 1-0 to win 21st successive league game". 4 January 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  19. "Lorne Bickley: Hartlepool sign Jersey Bulls striker". 7 March 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. "Jersey Bulls set new Combined Counties League record after British Airways win". 8 March 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  21. "Jersey Bulls' promotion statistically confirmed". 9 March 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  22. "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  23. "Sixty-six non-league clubs send open letter to FA over expunging season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  24. "Bedfont & Feltham 1 – 4 Jersey Bulls – The Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League". combinedcounties.pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020.
  25. Metcalfe, Neil (25 February 2021). "Non-league season to end from step three down". Hampstead Highgate Express.
  26. "Restructure to go ahead – The Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League". combinedcounties.pitchero.com.
  27. "Jersey Bulls FC". Jersey Bulls Facebook. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  28. "Jersey Bulls FC unveils CPA Global as inaugural sponsor". CPA Global. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  29. "Bulls announce SHUFL Capital as platinum sponsor". Bulls.je. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  30. "Jersey Bulls Strike New Headline Kit Sponsor". Jersey Bulls FC. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  31. "Squad". Jersey Bulls F.C. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  32. "Jersey Bulls About". Jersey Bulls F.C. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  33. "10-1 Horsham YMCA". 7 August 2021.
  34. "1-3 Balham FC". 30 March 2022.
  35. "Jersey Bulls 3-1 Fleet Spurs". FA Full Time -CRRCCL. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  36. "FC Deportivo Galicia 0-6 Jersey Bulls". FA Full Time CRRCCL. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  37. "Jersey Bulls 0-6 Chessington & Hook United". FA Full Time CRRCCL. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  38. "Aug 7, Jersey Bulls 10 Horsham YMCA 1 | The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round". fulltime.thefa.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  39. "Sep 26, Jersey Bulls 5 Crowborough Athletic 0 | The Buildbase FA Vase Second Round Qualifying". fulltime.thefa.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
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