FALKLANDS FOOTBALL

In this, the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War and whilst the invasion and subsequent liberation are well documented, did you know that the Islands also have their own “National” football team and internal League?

The FIFL (Falklands Islands Football League) has recorded that the first ever game on the Islands was way back in 1892. On that occasion, a team of the Falkland Islands Defence Force played against a Garrison team.

From this date until the outbreak of World War I, regular games between the Islands residents took place. The League in 1913 had 5 teams, notably, Dazzlers, Sappers, Crusaders, Corinthians and Malvinians.

Most competitive games on the Islands in the 1920’s and 1930s were between the various military personel stationed there.

Following World War II, the name Stanley FC was revived and became the nickname of the National team.

Past League Champions have included, Falkland Island Volunteers, Stanley Service Corps, Stanley Red Sox, Mustangs, and even a team called Penguin News!!

The National team is not able to compete in either the World Cup or the Copa America as their League does not belong to CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) due to their Countries members showing allegiance to Argentina during the conflict.

The team has however competed in “The Island Games” since 2001 and played against such luminaries as, The Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Gibraltar, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and Bermuda.

The 2020/21 National team shirt was a very fetching and patriotic affair, consisting of a Blue diagonal band across a Red bodied shirt and White sleeves.

The back of the short was predominently Red but with a Union Jack across the bottom third.

Notably, on the neck collar there is the number 255 which represents the number of British Military personnel who lost their lives in the Falklands War.

Sport, and especially football, is an increasingly important part of the development of the Falkland Islands. A work site (shown below) has been prepared for an exciting sports development. The large rectangular area in the centre will be a 4G football/rugby pitch.

To the south of that the large circle will be a cricket pitch. To the left will be a large indoor facility for multiple sports.