Captains Holly Muirhead and Vicki Rang look towards leading their teams into the Cherry Godfrey Cup
The Cherry Godfrey Cup is breaking new ground this weekend as their inaugural all-female football tournament between the Channel Islands kicks off Friday at Springfield Stadium in Jersey. Leading two of the teams are their passionate captains - Jersey's Holly Muirhead and Guernsey's Vicki Rang - who have spent much of their lives helping elevate the sport on their respective islands and further afield. Both are accomplished athletes with deep ties to their respective communities, and, as they prepare to take part in this landmark event, they reflect on their football journeys, the significance of the Cherry Godfrey Cup, and the bright future of women’s football in the Islands.
Football Beginnings
Jersey hosts this year’s cup and, for their captain, Holly, football has been a central part of her life. Her journey began at a young age, “My earliest footballing memory is playing a tournament at Jersey Wanderers when I was around 7 years old.” Now sporting the No. 4 jersey, Holly is a midfielder for Rozel Rovers and loves to pull on the shirt for her island, bringing skill and leadership to the pitch. “Pride is the word that stands out most to me,” she says, “It’s always a privilege to wear the badge and play at a higher level of football.”
Across the water, Vicki, a centre-back wearing the No. 5 shirt, recalls growing up on the nearby island of Sark, “I was about 7 or 8 years old, playing with the boys, and having day trips to Guernsey to play games. ” As she grew older, her football career extended to England, where she played for her boarding school and trained at Dorset’s Centre of Excellence, before returning to Guernsey to finish her A-levels where she joined Rovers Ladies and played for Guernsey. There was even a stint with Southampton Saints whilst at university before Vicki once again came back to Guernsey.
Unfortunately, she says, it was not all positive. In 2017, “the Guernsey Women's League declined to such a point it was no longer enjoyable.” It was, at this point, Vicki, alongside some equally passionate teammates and coaches, was welcomed by Ormer FC and created a Ladies side. The impact, Vicki knows, was positive: “It provided much-needed competitive UK and Jersey-based matches for the next few seasons.” After Ormer FC Ladies rebranded as North Ladies, she made the decision to step away from Women's football for a while, but it was only three years before Vicki was back. “With a little persuasion from Guernsey FC's Manager/Coaches, I agreed to return to a couple of training sessions with the intention of passing on some experience to a younger squad and quickly found myself enjoying the game and training sessions and much to my surprise playing representative football once again.”
A New Cup on the Horizon
The Cherry Godfrey Cup is a two-day event offering a chance for the Channel Islands' top female football talent to shine, where teams from Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and the Isle of Wight will compete. Of course, Guernsey and Jersey are no strangers to going up against each other, with a friendly sporting rivalry stretching back decades. They have largely clashed in the Island Games and, most notably, the Muratti Vase. “The atmosphere is always amazing,” says Vicki, “and even more-so since the Women's and Men's games being played on the same day.”
Holly believes the Muratti is important for both islands because, “it’s a good opportunity to see the work that has been done throughout the year and gives us a consistent fixture to prepare for.” She’s been lucky to play in a few, as Jersey has largely dominated the Muratti show-downs since 2002, but Guernsey won it back this year in a 2-0 thriller, where Vicki scored the opener from a near-post header. Having played in Murattis since she was 17, she won’t forget that year in a hurry, but “the supporters for both sides are brilliant every time and help make the day even more memorable.” Holly agrees, adding, “I think it’s important having a local rivalry, it adds excitement for players and supporters. We always look forward to playing them and respect the history of the occasion.”
The Cherry Godfrey Cup, which will take place in the same venue - Springfield Stadium - will add a new prize into the mix, which Vicki calls, “exciting and refreshing” saying, “Just playing two games in two days is a great experience, then when you add a cup in the mix to play for, it’s even better.”
Certainly, this competition could be the next big step for women's football. The tournament is set to be bi-annual, and Holly is keen to make the Cherry Godfrey Cup a staple event that continues to grow women's football in Jersey bringing added interest to the game. Asked about the amazing growth of female-led football around the world, she was positive about Jersey’s impact: “Hopefully the success of the Lionesses and opportunities such as this tournament by Cherry Godfrey will help bring interest to our side of the game and inspire more women and girls to get involved on or off the pitch.”
Vicki, having returned to Guernsey FC, is keen to share her experience with the younger generation and help them develop their own paths in the sport. And she’s sure that the historic Guernsey-Jersey rivalry will not get in the way of the common goal, “I'm hoping that we can have a competitive and clean game with a strong performance from both sides that continues to promote Women's football in a positive light.”
The Tournament and Beyond
Behind the scenes, both teams have been putting in the hours. Holly’s Jersey squad has been training more intensively than usual, putting them in good stead she thinks. Guernsey have been focused on fitness, tactics, and match play. “The squad’s attendance and commitment has been excellent,” says Vicki as the palpable anticipation builds to Friday’s play-offs and, potentially, Saturday’s 3pm final. She’s also making sure to get an early night the day before, “So I'm feeling fresh for the following days match and to enjoy watching the other matches.”
As the Cherry Godfrey Cup kicks off, everyone involved is excited to see which island will claim the inaugural trophy. With free entry to all matches, Springfield Stadium is expected to fill with supporters, families, and friends, all eager to cheer on their teams​.
With Holly leading Jersey and Vicki at the helm of Guernsey, the tournament is set to be an electrifying showcase of skill, passion, and the ever-growing strength of women’s football in the Channel Islands.
