Jersey Bulls boss confident his side can win title
Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell is confident his side can win the Combined Counties Premier South title.
Bulls know victory over relegation-threatened Sandhurst Town at Springfield on Saturday would almost certainly be enough to become champions.
Advertisement
Bulls are level on points with second-placed Redhill, but their goal difference means their rivals would have to win their final game by 21 goals more than the islanders to take the title.
Should both teams slip up, third-placed Whyteleafe could win the title - they are just one point behind.
"In terms of achieving what we set out at the start of the season, this gives us the opportunity on the pitch at the first time of asking," Powell told BBC Radio Jersey
"It's an important day for the club, we've been looking for promotion from this level for about four seasons now, so for us to have that opportunity in our hands on Saturday is one that we need to take."
Advertisement
Only the champions will earn promotion to the eighth tier of English football, with the next four sides in play-offs for the second promotion place.
Bulls were beaten in the play-off semi-finals last season, but Powell hopes they can build on their midweek win over Abbey Rangers after losing 2-1 at home to Redhill last week.
"They need to play the game, not the occasion. I know that's a cliche but our lads have been really good at it all season," added Powell.
"We play the opposition in front of us, especially here at Springfield.
"We've lost a couple, to Redhill and Whyteleafe, but largely we've been pretty dominant here, and even in those games we should have taken something out of both of them.
Advertisement
"We've got a way of playing down here, the home support definitely helps that, and fingers crossed everything goes to plan on Saturday."
Jersey Bulls finished second Combined Counties Premier South last season, but hope to go one place better on Saturday [Lauren Trachy/Jersey Bulls]
Powell took over as Bulls manager in the summer from Gary Freeman, who had led the island side since they were formed in 2019.
Despite only being 27, he came to the club with a strong record in local football.
He guided St Peter to the island's domestic title and led Jersey's representative team to gold at the 2023 Island Games and victory in the 2024 Muratti Vase.
He has continued that form as Bulls boss, losing just two league games, to Redhill and Whyteleafe, and once in the FA Vase to Whitstable Town - who have gone on to reach the final at Wembley.
Advertisement
He says victory on Saturday will be comparable to any achievement he has had s a coach.
"That Island Games is always going to be pretty special, certainly the outpouring of of emotion on the pitch after the game was something I don't think we'll experience again," he said.
"But I'm pretty sure Saturday we'll get pretty close.
"It's going to mean an awful lot to the fans and the club if we can get over the line on Saturday."
Related internet links
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
A Bayron Matos update. And Dolphins' McDaniel on Hill, Tahj Washington, Jones
Dolphins offensive lineman Bayron Matos, who was hospitalized for several days early in training camp after a frightening injury, has been given indication that he will be able to play again and intends to play again, his agent said this week .Agent Perlesta Hollingsworth, told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that Matos is back to feeling like himself after an 'above-the-shoulder-type injury' resulted in him being airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center after Miami's first training camp practice on July 23. Hollingsworth said it's uncertain if Matos will play this season, and that doctors and the Dolphins need to figure that out in the days ahead. 'He's doing better,' he said. 'He feels better. He has normal function and feeling. He definitely wants to play.' In the 24 hours after the injury, Hollingsworth said Matos has 'some movement but not full movement in his right leg. It comes and goes.' He subsequently regained full movement in his extremities and was released from the hospital after a week. Matos was injured during an inadvertent collision with a teammate. 'He ran into a defensive lineman when his head was lowered and took the brunt of the impact,' Hollingsworth said .Matos, a 6-7, 334-pound offensive lineman, played in preseason as a rookie last year but has not played a snap in a regular-season game. 'I want to be one of the best tackles to play in the NFL,' he said last year. The Dolphins thought so much of Matos when they signed him 16 months ago that they guaranteed him $247,500, an unusually high number for an undrafted rookie. At least 10 other teams showed interest. Born in the Dominican Republic, Matos, 23, initially played baseball growing up (he could throw in the 90s as a pitcher) but moved to the United States to play college basketball for two years at New Mexico and for a year at University of South Florida. He walked on as a football player at USF and played a couple dozen snaps on defense before moving to the offensive line. Matos moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic when he was 17, initially for 'basketball, to learn English, learn the culture.' In three years playing Division I college basketball, he averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds and 14 minutes per game in 48 games and 19 starts. But Matos' 'host family in Tennessee said… you will be a football player. You will never touch a basketball.' So he walked on at USF and appeared in two games as a defensive end before switching to the offensive line, where he never saw game action. Because of the NFL's international player pathway program, the Dolphins were permitted to keep Matos as a 91st player, one above the usual offseason and training camp roster limit. Several Michigan-based writers were mortified by the Dolphins' performance in Wednesday's joint practice with the Lions. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner: 'Lions just out-everything'd the Dolphins for 2 hours out here. As lopsided a joint NFL practice as I've ever seen. Lions just out-everything'd the Dolphins for 2 hours out here. As lopsided a joint NFL practice as I've ever seen.' A to Z Sports' Lions beat writer Mike Payton: 'Either the Dolphins are really bad, or the Lions are just a juggernaut. Not a great day for Miami.' The Athletic's Colton Pouncey: 'That was the most lopsided joint practice I've ever seen. Lions dominated both sides.' ▪ Coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that receiver Tyreek Hill, who has been nursing an oblique injury, 'was at our facility in our five-week time off probably the most out of any player.' ▪ McDaniel praised the progress of second-year receiver Tahj Washington, who had three catches for 53 yards on Sunday against Chicago after missing his rookie season with a torn ACL. Washington 'is very focused on being a reliable playmaker that is fully tooled in all phases and is good with or without the ball,' McDaniel said. 'There's nothing better than, to me, being on the field with a guy that makes a play on the heels of an extended rehab, because all those days — everybody sees the result, they see the catch, but they don't see the hours upon hours of work that goes into getting back on the field. I was pumped for him.' ▪ The Dolphins continue to think more of defensive tackle Benito Jones than Pro Football Focus does. PFF gave him low grades in 2023 in Detroit and 2024 in Miami but the Dolphins were eager to re-sign him. 'He's a guy that is very galvanizing in the locker room, is known to be dependable, to be about the right stuff,' McDaniel said. 'He drives big trucks and wears overalls and is a person unique to himself, and I think he's doing a great job being himself and flourishing at that.' ▪ Sportico announced its annual NFL franchise valuations on Wednesday, and the Dolphins were ranked seventh highest, with the publication putting the team's worst at $8.25 billion. (A source said owner Stephen Ross could get more than that if he sold.) That puts the Dolphins behind only the Cowboys ($12.8 billion), Rams ($10.4 billion), Giants ($10.24 billion), Patriots ($8.76 billion), 49ers ($8.6 billion) and Eagles ($8.45 billion). The Jets are ninth at $8.11 billion and the Raiders 10th at $7.9 billion. Here is a full report on Wednesday's Dolphins-Lions practice in Michigan. Here is an update on Chop Robinson's injury.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Manchester United Could Move In For This Brighton Midfielder: What Will He Bring To Old Trafford?
In a recent report, journalists Daniel Feliciano and Ben Jacobs mentioned that Manchester United could move in for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. It has been claimed that the Red Devils are considering a move to acquire the services of the Cameroonian talent this summer. Baleba's Impressive Form In English Football Baleba enjoyed a solid campaign at the English club after he produced a series of impressive displays for them at the centre of the park. The 21-year-old scored four goals and grabbed a couple of assists in 40 appearances for the Seagulls last season across multiple competitions. The Cameroonian talent offered decent protection for his teammates at the back as he made 79 tackles, 47 blocks and 46 interceptions in the Premier League. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from midfield, based on his pass completion rate of 87.4% in the English first division (stats via Baleba is under contract at the American Express Community Stadium until the summer of 2028. Hence, Man United would have to make a big offer if they are serious about landing him in this transfer window. SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion in action during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at St Mary's Stadium on February 22, 2025 in Southampton, England. (Photo by) What Will Baleba Bring To Manchester United? Baleba is a tough-tackling midfielder who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team in the middle of the park. He doesn't mind putting his foot through the ball when needed. The Cameroon international is a tidy passer of the ball and can chip in by scoring and creating some crucial goals for his side going forward. He is primarily a defensive midfielder, but can also fill in as a centre-back or as a box-to-box midfielder if told to do so. Baleba would bring more quality and depth to Man United head coach Ruben Amorim's midfield department. He would also serve as an ideal, long-term successor to Casemiro at the Mancunian club. At 21, the future looks quite bright for Baleba as long as he continues to improve with each year. He is already good enough to help the Red Devils compete across all fronts in the coming seasons. Thus, Amorim would be wise to get a deal over the line for the Cameroonian sensation before the end of this transfer window.
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Fox Sports
2025 English Premier League Predictions: Ranking the Top 6 Teams
English Premier League 2025 English Premier League Predictions: Ranking the Top 6 Teams Updated Aug. 13, 2025 2:35 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link With the 2026 FIFA World Cup under a year away, all eyes will be on the upcoming English Premier League campaign. The EPL is home to some of the biggest and brightest stars in world soccer, many of whom will star for their countries in next summer's 48-team tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States. EUROPE'S BEST TEAMS: WHERE BARCELONA, PSG, LIVERPOOL RANK AMONG TOP 20 Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy last season after an outstanding 84-point season and added more attacking talent this season with big-money transfers for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz. But is this the year Arsenal finally lift the trophy? Can Manchester City reclaim their throne? Let's take a look at the top of the Premier League and where each team ranks entering the season: Note: League positions reflect last season's finish. 1 Liverpool 1st, Premier League Last year, the Reds ran away with the Premier League title, besting second-place Arsenal by 10 points. Despite the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, Liverpool has only gotten better this summer. Arne Slot's side has been the big winner of this transfer window, dropping north of $350 million on backup keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, and forwards Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. No wonder they're the favorites to retain the English title. 2 Chelsea 4th, Premier League After finishing fourth in the Prem last term, the Blues stunned many by winning the expanded, 32-team Club World Cup in July. Can they harness that momentum and use it to challenge for English and European titles next spring? They've got the firepower. Chelsea already have an emerging superstar in winger Cole Palmer — this season he'll be supported by new recruits like strikers Liam Delap and João Pedro, Pedro's fellow Brazilian attacker Estêvão, and English forward Jamie Gittens. ADVERTISEMENT 3 Arsenal 2nd, Premier League The Premier League runner-up in each of the last three seasons, what Mikel Arteta's team is missing at this point are trophies. Still, Arsenal continues to improve. The Gunners knocked then-Champions League holders Real Madrid out of Europe's top club tournament last April, snaring a convincing 5-1 aggregate win. And they've added real quality this summer in the form of defensive midfielder Martín Zubimendi and forwards Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke. City's unprecedented run of four consecutive Premier League titles came to a halt last season, when Pep Guardiola's side finished third, lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace, and were eliminated from European play before the Champions League's round of 16 even began. This team is too good not to bounce back in a big way this year, though — even without club legend Kevin de Bruyne, whose contract wasn't extended. 5 Newcastle 5th, Premier League The Magpies eked into the Champions League places last term only because UEFA granted England's top flight one additional spot. Newcastle fans aren't complaining though, though they will be if and when star forward Alexander Isak leaves for Liverpool on the eve of the new season. 6 Manchester Utd 15th, Premier League It's hard to believe that the 20-time English champions finished 15th last season, when they also lost the Europa League final to Premier League rivals Tottenham. But the Red Devils added forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško this window, and they should fare better in Ruben Amorim's first full season at the Old Trafford helm. Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports who has covered United States men's and women's national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ ByDougMcIntyre . What did you think of this story? share
