Right at the start of the school summer holidays so can’t go annoyingly , as we are busy. Nice trip though 

Would of been a nice weekend away, had I not been on holiday.

I will probably expand on this post at some point (!! - it will already probably be a waffle anyway), but I just wanted to express my delight at the fixture choice.

And I totally get that the date might not work for many, I do get that.

This football club, this local, non-league football club 'gets it. Totally gets it. Or at the very least Marc does, and the people who build and supprt the club around his vision do.

This club was always and will always be a rough and ready club. A club with a Sunday league mentality in its DNA. A club who went on pre season tours to the Isle of Wight. Most who were around in that era have moved on in most ways apart from maybe Marc and Mick Daniels, and course some who are now fans, like Lamps and Leroy Hyett, and many other former players who now bring their own kids along.

Those tours and the funny memories and stories of them are the stuff of legend and are no doubt fond memories for Marc. Every season one pre season trip is an attempt to rekindle those memories and for 48 hours or thereabouts the club lets its hair down and says lets have a drink up and a night on the razzle. It may not ever be quite the same, players these days are proper pros in their outlook, but the wierd destinations of Mousehole or Chorley in the North West, the squad (including old pro Barry Fuller) cramming into a minibus to Barry away is what it is all about. Even just over a decade ago, away games at Guernsey FC happened a couple of times!

Destinations you wouldn't normally visit, but with pre season and the freedom to choose a destination, for one weekend that can become reality. For the away supporters, which tbh there wasn't really in any meaningful sense 15 years ago, this is an adventure!

I do totally get that St Helier in particular is fairly expensive for accommodation, but hopefully plenty can make it work and give themselves a memorable away trip. Merstham took over 100 there this season for example, and took over a pub in town for a few hours! Farnham did similar a couple of years ago

I have a gut feeling that every year for a while now that Marc in particular has noticed that before every FA Trophy draw us fans on here and SM have been willing that ball number for Jersey out of the hat! And it in some way made him think why not! They flew to the game in Mousehole, flew to the original postponed NL game at Gateshead for a weekend away and it's a squad bonding experience getting away by plane to somewhere unusual.

Just an overnight backpack of essentials. No huge passport queues. The sea air. and harbour views Or maybe a longer visit around a bit more of the island exploring the villages too?

It's a chance for travelling supporters to spread their wings, and the novelty trip of the season! I do know it isn't possible for many but for any who can, you won't regret it!

People looking to make this trip might want to hold off booking until information on match date and kick off time is officially published just in case of change of arrangements. 

Agree with all that David about the joys and justification of the pre-season tour and have great memories of the Poole trip.

Jersey is a good shout - as close as we are going to an away game in Europe (for a little while!) and it is well worth an explore. A few years ago I walked around the whole island one weekend and can confirm there are plenty of lovely quiet beeches and a few noisier pubs to enjoy.  Now if Marc could just charter an Anderson's flight out there ...  

Date and time announced officially as Friday 17 July, 18.00 ko