Muratti
Encyclopedia
The Muratti is the only annual men's football
competition, inaugurated in 1905, between the Channel Islands
of Guernsey
, Jersey
and Alderney
, the prize for winning being a trophy called the Muratti Vase which is only relevant within the Islands. Both Matthew Le Tissier
and Graeme Le Saux
played in the Muratti for Guernsey and Jersey respectively. Since its inception, the match has been held in both islands on alternate years, interrupted only between 1915-1919 and 1940-1946 due to the First and Second World Wars. The teams wear their island colours of green and white (Guernsey) and red and white (Jersey) and blue and white (Alderney). The competition is sponsored by Kleinwort Benson and now includes Ladies' and Junior trophies.
The tournament consists of a semi-final and a final. Before the Second World War the draw for the semi-final rotated between the three islands, but since then Jersey and Guernsey have taken turns to play Alderney in the semi.
In 2010, the game was played on the eve of the Channel Islands celebrating 65 years of liberation from Nazi Occupation. The game was played at Springfields Stadium in Jersey, where Guernsey were victorious by a solitary goal. The match capped off a superb week for Guernsey as they started the week by winning the National League Systems Cup to be crowned best Amateur side in England and went on to represent England in Europe later that year.
Jersey reclaimed the title in 2011 at The Track in Guernsey. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Jersey scoring the equaliser in the 6th minute of stoppage time at the end of the game. After a goalless period of extra time, Jersey eventually won 3-0 on a penalty shoot out. The result meant that Guernsey have been unable to successfully defend the trophy since 1992.
Alderney have not reached a final since 1938.
Guernsey's longest unbeaten run was a stretch of 5 finals between 1932 and 1936. They were prevented a 6th straight win by a tie in 1937, the only year the title has been shared. Ironically, Guernsey won it in 1938 meaning they held the trophy for 7 years albeit one of those shared.
The biggest victory margin is an 18-0 win to Jersey over Alderney in the 1994 semi-final. Jersey also beat Alderney 10-0 in 2000, 10-0 in 1987 and 11-0 in 1971 whilst Guernsey beat Alderney 10-0 in 1993, 12-0 in 1978 and 10-0 in 1966.
The biggest victory margin in a final was 7-1 in 1926 where Jersey beat Alderney. Guernsey have won 5-0 on 3 occasions, in 1979, 1935 and 1929 (the latter two against Alderney)
The highest scoring final was in 1957 where Guernsey beat Jersey 6-4
Up until 2005 a drawn final would be replayed. 7 finals were decided on a replay. Since 2006, the game has been decided on the day and 3 matches have gone to extra time since then, with all these matches being decided on a penalty shoot out.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competition, inaugurated in 1905, between the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
of Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and Alderney
Alderney
Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide. The area is , making it the third-largest island of the Channel Islands, and the second largest in the Bailiwick...
, the prize for winning being a trophy called the Muratti Vase which is only relevant within the Islands. Both Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew "Matt" Le Tissier is a retired English footballer who played for Southampton and England.An attacking midfielder with exceptional technical skills, Le Tissier is the second-highest ever scorer for Southampton behind Mick Channon and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1990. He was...
and Graeme Le Saux
Graeme Le Saux
Graeme Pierre Le Saux is a retired English footballer of French ancestry who played for the Premier League clubs Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton, and for the England national football team. Primarily a left back, he was sometimes also played in midfield or on the left wing.After...
played in the Muratti for Guernsey and Jersey respectively. Since its inception, the match has been held in both islands on alternate years, interrupted only between 1915-1919 and 1940-1946 due to the First and Second World Wars. The teams wear their island colours of green and white (Guernsey) and red and white (Jersey) and blue and white (Alderney). The competition is sponsored by Kleinwort Benson and now includes Ladies' and Junior trophies.
The tournament consists of a semi-final and a final. Before the Second World War the draw for the semi-final rotated between the three islands, but since then Jersey and Guernsey have taken turns to play Alderney in the semi.
Results
Jersey have won the competition 51 times, Guernsey 42 times, and Alderney once (in 1920), with one title shared between Jersey and Guernsey. Alderney's 1920 victory is the only match they have won in the competition.In 2010, the game was played on the eve of the Channel Islands celebrating 65 years of liberation from Nazi Occupation. The game was played at Springfields Stadium in Jersey, where Guernsey were victorious by a solitary goal. The match capped off a superb week for Guernsey as they started the week by winning the National League Systems Cup to be crowned best Amateur side in England and went on to represent England in Europe later that year.
Jersey reclaimed the title in 2011 at The Track in Guernsey. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Jersey scoring the equaliser in the 6th minute of stoppage time at the end of the game. After a goalless period of extra time, Jersey eventually won 3-0 on a penalty shoot out. The result meant that Guernsey have been unable to successfully defend the trophy since 1992.
Alderney have not reached a final since 1938.
Records
Jersey hold the record for longest run as champions, having held the title for 8 years between 1958 and 1965.Guernsey's longest unbeaten run was a stretch of 5 finals between 1932 and 1936. They were prevented a 6th straight win by a tie in 1937, the only year the title has been shared. Ironically, Guernsey won it in 1938 meaning they held the trophy for 7 years albeit one of those shared.
The biggest victory margin is an 18-0 win to Jersey over Alderney in the 1994 semi-final. Jersey also beat Alderney 10-0 in 2000, 10-0 in 1987 and 11-0 in 1971 whilst Guernsey beat Alderney 10-0 in 1993, 12-0 in 1978 and 10-0 in 1966.
The biggest victory margin in a final was 7-1 in 1926 where Jersey beat Alderney. Guernsey have won 5-0 on 3 occasions, in 1979, 1935 and 1929 (the latter two against Alderney)
The highest scoring final was in 1957 where Guernsey beat Jersey 6-4
Up until 2005 a drawn final would be replayed. 7 finals were decided on a replay. Since 2006, the game has been decided on the day and 3 matches have gone to extra time since then, with all these matches being decided on a penalty shoot out.
Change of name
It was reported in March 2009 that the name of the competition would have to be changed due to proposed legislative restrictions on tobacco advertising in Jersey. Although the Muratti brand of cigarettes is not sold in Jersey, the name of the tobacco manufacturer linked to the name of the trophy would fall within the ban on promotion of brands.See also
- Alderney national football teamAlderney national football teamThe Alderney official football team is the official football team for Alderney, the third largest of the Channel Islands. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA....
- Guernsey national football teamGuernsey national football teamThe Guernsey official football team is the official football team for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which is not part of the United Kingdom but is a possession of the crown. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Football...
- Jersey national football teamJersey national football teamThe Jersey official football team is the official football team for the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are not affiliated with FIFA nor UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Football Championship...
- Inter-insular matchInter-insular matchThe Inter-insular match is a cricket match played annually between the representative teams of Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey. It has been played since 1957 and often attracts crowds above 1,000.-History:...
- the equivalent event in cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...