Jersey Bulls boss ready for higher level after promotion
Jersey Bulls manager Elliott Powell says his side will focus on consolidating their league position next season.Powell led the island side to promotion to the Isthmian League South East on Wednesday night after a 2-1 win over Cobham in their play-off final.Bulls had topped the Combined Counties League Premier South before being docked three points for fielding a suspended player, forcing them to go into the play-offs. But they will now play in the fourth tier of non-league football for the first time since the club was formed in 2019."For us at step four the aim's going to be different," Powell told BBC Radio Jersey."We're not going to try and get promoted in year one from step four, I think it's going to be a gradual build up to that over a number of years and probably over a number of tenures now."For us now it's about stabilising, consolidating next year without that pressure to win every single week."We can probably blood a few more youngsters and hopefully you'll see more of the Will Yates', the Fergus Boyles, the Tom Goncalves, the Connor Lloyds of the world."It's important for us, it gives them more development opportunities now."
Powell says it is also important that the club learn from the mistakes of this season.They were docked points after mistakenly playing midfielder Toby Ritzema while he was banned - the club wrongly included a yellow card he had been given in a cup game as counting towards the threshold for a league suspension. But Powell is hopeful Jersey Bulls can be successful at the higher level.Step four - the eighth tier of the English pyramid - is the highest any side from the Channel Islands or Isle of Man has reached.Guernsey FC were relegated from Isthmian League South Central this season after 12 years at that level."Next season's been planned for a while now," Powell explained."We have a five-week break, so we know when we're coming in for pre-season that starts on 1 July."Pre-season fixtures are being planned now by the club."We know that we've got a few things to work out behind the scenes at the club now to make sure that we're ready for step four."We've had a warning shot this year with the processing of an ineligible player and all that sort of stuff, now it's about gearing up so that on the pitch, off the pitch, we're ready for step four and hopefully higher heights form there."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
36 minutes ago
- Sky News
Diplomatic win for UK hosting US-China trade talks
Sky News understands that the Trump administration approached the UK government to ask if it would host round two of the US-China trade talks. This is a useful 'diplo-win' for the UK. The first round was held in Geneva last month. News of that happening came as a surprise. The Chinese and the Americans were in the midst of a Trump-instigated trade war. President Trump was en route to Saudi Arabia and suddenly we got word of talks in Switzerland. They went surprisingly well. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng, met face-to-face and agreed to suspend most tariffs for 90 days. But two weeks later, the Trump administration accused Beijing of breaking the agreements reached in Geneva. Beijing threw the blame back at Washington. On Wednesday, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping spoke by phone. The Chinese claimed this call was at the Americans' request. Either way, the consequence was that the talks were back on track. "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, trade deal," President Trump said this week. From that call came the impetus for a second round of talks. A venue was needed. In stepped the UK at short notice. Beyond being geographically convenient, UK government sources suggest that Britain is geopolitically in the right place right now to act as this bridge and facilitator. The UK-China relationship is in the process of a "reset". Other locations, like Brussels or other EU capitals, would have been less workable. Crucially too, for the UK, this is also potentially advantageous as it seeks to get its own UK-US trade agreement, to eliminate or massively reduce tariffs, over the line. 5:08 Talks on reaching the "implementation phase" have been near-continuous since the announcement last month, but having the American principals in London is a plus. Sideline talks are possible, but even the presence of the US team in the UK is helpful. For all the chaos that President Trump is causing with his tariffs, he has instigated face-to-face conversations as he seeks resets. Key players are sitting down around tables - yes, to untangle the trade knots which Trump tied, but this whole episode has pulled foes together around the same table; it has forced relationships and maybe mutual understanding. That's useful. And for this next round, between superpowers, the UK is the host. Also useful.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Footy great Dermott Brereton reveals secret health battle that is making even simple daily tasks impossible
AFL legend Dermott Brereton has delivered an emotional account of the lifelong toll football has taken on his body, revealing he now struggles to perform even the simplest tasks like putting on shoes or shaking hands. The five-time premiership forward spoke candidly at the Melbourne Cricket Club during the Norm Smith Oration, detailing his painful daily challenges caused by a career built on fearless, physical football. The man who once played through shattered ribs now needs help tying his laces. 'I pathetically allow myself to become melancholy and even teary,' he admitted. 'Some mornings my beautiful partner Julie has to put on my shoes and socks for me. 'With the pain in my spine, where they inserted a cage, I can't reach.' Brereton revealed he sometimes cries from the physical toll football has taken on his body His body, once built to absorb contact and punishment, now resists everyday movement. 'Some days I have to walk down the stairs sideways. I haven't had cartilage in my knees for 40 years.' Brereton, 59, became a Hawthorn icon during the club's dominant 1980s era, playing from 1982 to 1992. He was known for his flamboyance and aggression, famously playing through broken ribs in the 1989 VFL Grand Final. That trademark fearlessness won him respect and five premierships—but it came at great physical cost. 'Some days I can't shake hands with other men,' he said. 'If they do, I fear they'll re-open the broken bones in my hands.' Reconstructed ankles, damaged shoulders, and arthritic joints now define his day-to-day life. 'Some days I crab my way down the stairs because my ankle won't flex anymore,' he added. Brereton's speech combined humour and heartbreak as he recalled his upbringing in Frankston and rise to stardom. He shared the stage with Essendon great Tim Watson, whose light-hearted stories brought laughter to balance the emotion. 'To be honest with you, Tim, those [mid-'80s] battles took you to the edge of safety,' Brereton said. 'And for me, that is always where you get the best view of life.' He admitted to using powerful anti-inflammatories for decades—Indocin, Brufen, and Voltaren—which left him with ongoing stomach issues. 'Some nights I sleep very little because of the arthritis in my shoulder joints,' he said. That joint damage stemmed from years of heavy weight training to survive the demands of centre half-forward. In perhaps the most revealing moment, Brereton questioned whether it was all worth it. 'I often ask myself… in that moment of weakness—was it worth it?' His answer: 'I'd do it all over again, exactly the same. Maybe next time, I might go a little harder.' He recalled receiving regular epidurals just to keep playing during his peak years. 'In '86-89, I'd go to Vimy House after games for an epidural. I'd lie in bed all day, then head home.' Post-retirement, Brereton moved into media and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He acknowledged football had given him discipline, fame, romance, wealth, employment, and friendships. But it also took something dear: his long-term physical independence. 'It's also taken away something very dear to me,' he said. La Trobe University data, cited by the AFL Players' Association, shows 76 per cent of past players suffered serious injuries. Of those, 64 per cent say those injuries still affect their daily lives. Since 2017, more than 1150 past players have received reimbursements for joint and dental surgeries.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Gardeners' World fave reveals £2 Asda trick to feed family veg all summer – & it's perfect for small spaces
WHAT could you do with a square meter in your outside space? Turns out - quite a lot - says Gardeners' World presenter Nick Bailey - who's spearheading new campaign Make a Metre Matter. 2 2 He wants to get Sun Gardening readers involved too - supporting wildlife and sustainability - and making the planet a better place. 'There's 20 million gardens in Britain. If 20 million people just dedicated one metre, that's quite a lot of metres isn't it?,' he told me. 'There are loads of ways you can make a meaningful difference, including growing plants for pollinators, growing veg to cut down on food miles and creating a compost heap.' Nick's created a Headline Show Garden for BBC Gardeners' World Live later this month - with lots of Make a Metre Matter ideas to take home. He added: 'You can grow nine lettuces in that space. You could grow four compact courgettes and supply your family with more courgettes than you could eat for the summer." Currently Asda are selling courgette seeds for £2 - and you can get them in the ground now. 'You could choose to put acid compost in there and put four blueberries in there " he said. "Within your first harvest you've made your money back.' 'Equally you could just sow some British native wildflowers, which could be as cheap as £2 to £3 for a packet. 'It will give you a brilliant long run of colour from May through to October, with lots of interest for pollinators. Gardeners' World's Monty Don fears 'decayed' knees from years of gardening could cut short TV career 'You could also create a square metre pond. In the first month you'll have about 10 species in the pond. "A year down the line you'll have 20 plus species and it just goes up and up and up. 'Insect and bees will come and feed from there, you'll support birds, you're supporting the aquatic life itself. 'It doesn't have to be a big space to make a big impact.' If you're inspired to make a difference - you can register your meter to be entered into a Gardeners World prize draw to win a £1k voucher to spend at Crocus or two runner up Crocus prizes of £500. Visit for more information. Gardeners World Live takes place at Birmingham NEC from June 12 - 15. Top tips, news and a great competition to win a £100 Westland plant feed bundle. TOP TIP Salvias are coming into their prime right now - especially the Mexican hardy shrubby ones like Hot Lips, Limelight and Amistad. To ensure you get the best blooms all summer, we've got some top tips from expert William Dyson, from Great Comp Garden in Kent Grow them in pots, or in your borders - they like free draining soil and sunshine. If you give them an extra chop in mid to late of July - cutting a third of the growth- they'll spring back and reward you with tons of flowers until November. Companion plant with perennials to give a cottage garden look Or make a statement in a large pot. Don't let them get too dry - they do like to be watered, Don't feed them with nitrogen plant food because you'll get more leaves and less flowers. Great Comp's summer garden show is on August 9 and 10. NEWS! The Beardy Gardener - an award-winning garden designer, broadcaster and mental health advocate, is hosting his first ever Garden Gathering on June 21 at the Longstock Park Nursery on the Leckford Estate, near Andover. The event supports Andover Mind 's 'Garden for Mind' initiative, a therapeutic green space dedicated to enhancing mental health and wellbeing. The Garden Gathering promises a vibrant day filled with expert-led workshops, live demonstrations, plant sales, and family-friendly activities. For more info visit NEWS! The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens across the UK while raising money for nursing and health charities. Visit the website to find a garden near you open this week. WIN! Thanks to Westland - we're giving away two amazing plant feed bundles worth over £100 each. Each one contains Boost Boost All Purpose Granules, plant feed, Big Tom, Rose feed, bug gard and others. To enter visit or write to Sun Westland Boost competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. June 28, 2025. T&Cs apply. JOB OF THE WEEK You can move a lot of houseplants outside now to make space or give them a bit of a boost with natural light. Water hanging baskets daily, start deadheading roses. TOP TIP - if you, like me, are struggling with blackfly right now - make a spray of washing up liquid (Ecover is best) and water - and give them a good soaking.
