FC Isle of Man

FA APPROVES FC ISLE OF MAN’S APPLICATION TO JOIN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM

It has finally happened! After two years of an incredible amount of toil, sweat and not a few tears, FC Isle of Man have recently learnt that the Football Association have granted the club a place in Step 6 of the FA League Constitution of the National League System (NLS) for the 2020/21 season.

First game against Guernsey FC is on Saturday 15th August 18:30 at The Bowl.

FC Isle of Man has been placed in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Division One South and will be the first offshore club to be represented in the NWCFL. The allocation of our place is subject to ratification by the FA Council.

This is a truly momentous and historic occasion for the club, as the Isle of Man will finally have an organisation that will represent the Island and its community in the NLS, and could be the first stepping stone to ultimately becoming professional football club.

This entry to NLS will provide a direct pathway for our players to the higher echelons of football in England such as the Football League and Premier League. In addition, there is now potential for the Bowl to be the venue for FA Cup and FA Trophy matches in the future.

FC Isle of Man’s Director of Football, Paul Jones has been at the heart of making FC Isle of Man become a reality and stated:

FC Isle of Man’s Director of Football, Paul Jones has been at the heart of making FC Isle of Man become a reality and stated:

“It is a huge day for the football club. Being placed into a league has been the focus of the last two years of work. We will celebrate this milestone and the efforts required of all involved to date. Thanks also go to the wider Manx community who have already got behind this project.

However, very quickly, our efforts will now pivot towards all the plans we have been making ahead of this decision. Those plans which involve being able to fulfil our On and Off-Island fixtures, as well as realise our aims to provide multiple opportunities for our Island community beyond the field of play.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds. Now we are in a league we, the club’s members and supporters are in control of just how far we go. I am excited to see just what our community is capable of.”

FC Isle of Man Chairman, Gary Weightman added: “Just three weeks ago FC Isle of Man became an official football club following its affiliation to the Isle of Man FA, and now we are an actual league football club.

The main aim of FC Isle of Man has always been to play football in a national league. Now that aim, following the culmination of two years hard work, has been achieved.

There is still much hard labour ahead but it is right to enjoy this moment and to thank all those across the Island and around the world who have supported our efforts and who have shown faith in the dream.

Notwithstanding this news, when you consider that we have a high profile sponsor in Manx Telecom supporting us there is an exciting future ahead for the Island’s footballers and the wider community. The agreement is for three years, from the start of the 2020/21 season, and represents a game changer for Manx sport.

The Manx Telecom group and FC Isle of Man share many values, none more so than our commitments to benefit the Manx community and showcase the best that the island has to offer. Everyone at FC Isle of Man is thrilled to be affiliated with one of the Island’s most reputable companies, and this agreement provides the club with a solid foundation to grow and develop.

We know the island is capable of great things, now is the time for us all to seize the opportunities presented to us.”

Gary Lamb & Ty Smith

Gary Lamb, Chief Executive Officer of Manx Telecom, said: “Manx Telecom has always been proud to support the community we live and work in, and FC Isle of Man is a fantastic example of a community-owned and run organisation.

Manx sportsmen and women are always very competitive and we hope our support will help FC Isle of Man to nurture local talent, enabling more players, officials and volunteers to reach their full potential without having to leave home.

We’re also looking forward to helping the club raise its profile both on and off the Island, and to working with FC IOM to attract more sports visitors to the Island, and I’m sure the club will quickly become a focus of national pride and celebration.”

LOCAL CYCLISTS PREPARE FOR GRAN FONDO ISLE OF MAN 2020 CHALLENGE

Mooragh Park again hosts Cycling extravaganza

Local cyclists of all ages and abilities will be on lining up at Mooragh Park, Ramsey on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August to tackle their own personal cycling challenges and achieve their goals in the 2020 edition of Gran Fondo Isle of Man presented by PokerStars.

The four different distance challenges – Gran (85 miles), Medio (40 miles), Piccolo (20 miles) and Minisculo (0.5 mile multi lap) will all get underway from the Riders Village in Mooragh Park.

There’s plenty of free entertainment for spectators, friends and family over the August Bank Holiday Weekend complimented by some of the best local street food providers the Isle of Man has to offer.

Local bike shop, café and fitness hub Cycle 360, an Official Gran Fondo Isle of Man partner, will be on hand in the Riders Village providing last minute riding essentials as well as an emergency repair service for anyone with technical issues.

The Riders Village will also feature a giant LED screen showing action from the opening two days of this year’s Tour de France beamed in live from Nice interspersed with live coverage of Gran Fondo Isle of Man itself courtesy of event

partner ELS. The Riders Village opens at 12 noon on Saturday 29th August and from 8am on Sunday 30th.

The Minisculo Fondo riders will be the first on the start line from 4pm on Saturday 29th August. The family friendly Minisculo Fondo, held over a half-mile circuit in and around Mooragh Park, is open to children, families and beginners who are invited to do as many laps of a fully closed roads circuit as they want in an hour. Entry is free but pre-event registration is required via granfondoiom.com.

The action steps up a gear on Sunday 30th August with the three closed road Fondo distance challenges. First away from Mooragh Park at 9am is the Gran Fondo – 85 miles of closed road cycling including some of the toughest climbs in the British Isles – a cumulative 6500ft up Druidale the Round Table and Injebreck, hitting gradients of up to 25%. Whether racing to win or riding to finish, the Gran Fondo represents a true challenge of legs and lungs.

The Medio Fondo riders will leave the line at 9.30am. The forty-mile ride is aimed at recreational riders who want to test themselves that little bit further and takes in the climb of Druidale which gives the route around 2,800 metres of climbing. Last away on Sunday at 10am are the Piccolo Fondo riders and their 20 mile challenge winds its way around the flatter farmland and stunning scenery of the Island’s northern plains.

Don’t worry if you haven’t entered for your own personal challenge yet. Entries close at midnight on Sunday 16th August. The Gran Fondo is priced at £50 while the Medio and Piccolo are £30 and £20 respectively. E bike entries are welcome in both the Medio and Piccolo but unfortunately you are only allowed to use your own power for the Gran Fondo.

This year’s Official Gran Fondo Isle of Man charity is the Manx Solidarity Fund, and you can put your miles to good use by fundraising for the charity via their justgiving page.

There is still time to enter one of the three Fondo distance challenge – Gran, Medio and Piccolo or register for the Minisculo via granfondoiom.com. Entries close on Sunday 16th August at midnight.

New for 2020 E Bikes can take part in both the Medio and Piccolo Fondo challenges.

This year’s official charity is the Manx Solidarity Fund and you can fundraise for the charity that was set up to bring the community together to support residents and local organisations facing difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. For details go to the Manx Solidarity justgiving page.

For full details of road closures for this year’s Gran Fondo Isle of Man go to granfondoiom.com

DEEP SOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2020

POPPING UP ON PORT ERIN BEACH RIGHT NOW

Words by: Suzy Holland Photos by: Chris Carr, the artists and Martin Bone (for Steve Harley)

Back in those pre-Covid days the team behind the Deep South Music Festival had a dream: a series of gigs by well-known UK acts at a new venue, Tower House in Douglas. But then the virus hit, the Island closed its borders and the DSMF 2020 looked to be just one of its live music victims.

But never say never. And Chris Carr was determined to not only continue to promote live music as soon as possible, but also to raise funds for a cause dear to his heart:

“The original Deep South Music Festival was unique in its commitment to charity fundraising,” Chris says, “and the events we had planned for Tower House each had its own mental health charity link. So when Martin at Busheys suggested we take over the Colas Tent on Port Erin beach every weekend after the Island’s lockdown ended, we leapt at the chance, not just to provide live music but also to raise awareness of mental health issues.”

Inevitably the line-ups have changed and Chris is delighted that this outdoor, pop-up, scaled down but typically Manx minifestival means that local bands and acts will provide the entertainment. And instead of a different charity each gig, local Mental Health Awareness charity REACH will be the beneficiary of any funds raised.

“It’s thought that one in three people in the UK experience mental health issues, and there is no reason to suspect that this isn’t the same on the Island,” continues Chris. “The effects of the pandemic lockdown, from the isolation issues and general anxiety to the knock-on job insecurity and financial problems, are already being seen but Covid-19 isn’t the sole source of mental health struggles – it has just made a problem that already existed worse. And it’s not just young people being bullied on social media (although that is definitely one cause), poor mental health can affect anyone, at any time.” REACH (Reflect, Embrace and Create Hope) was set up in 2019 with the aim of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and illness. It’s not a medical charity but offers a place to talk and be listened to. “Ironically in some ways the Covid pandemic has been good for mental health charities like REACH in that it has improved awareness not only of poor mental health but also what you, as an individual can do to boost your own mental well-being,” says REACH founder Adam Hudgeon. “But there is a downside too: an increasing number of people on the Island, of all ages and backgrounds are struggling with mental health issues connected to the lockdown. No-one should feel alone with their struggle, no-one should feel stigmatised for admitting they have a problem. REACH is a safe place to have ‘that’ conversation.”

Eventually the Port Erin Beach stage will come down but the Deep South Music Festival 2020 – and its commitment to mental health awareness - will go on. Toploader, the 90s alternative rock band which was originally booked for April, will now be appearing at Tower House on 4 December but sadly the Steve Harley gig, planned for the end of the September has been postponed until 2021.

We all love great music and a great night out, but there is serious side to this,” Chris says. “Someone on the Island will be struggling and contacting REACH for help. It might be you, your friend, your parent, your child or your neighbour, but if the Deep South Music Festival can just get the mental health awareness message out, that there is no shame in asking for help, then we will have achieved our goal.”

Full details of the programme for the Deep South Music Festival pop-up gigs on the Colas Stage on Port Erin Beach can be found on www.facebook.com/deepsouth.im and tickets for Steve Harley and Toploader can be bought at www.ticketor.com/Towerhouse. Supported by Busheys, The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and Manx Radio. REACH can be contacted via www.facebook.com/reachiom or www.reachiom.co.uk.