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BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football festival teams 'blown away' by welcome, organisers say
Fans and teams who travelled to the Isle of Man for a summer festival of football were "blown away" by the welcome they received, organisers have event saw four clubs from across the English football pyramid, including hosts FC Isle of Man, face off at the island's national stadium, The Bowl, in Two side Fleetwood Town won the trophy after a penalty shootout victory over Radcliffe Borough, while the home side finished fourth after losing 3-1 to Altrincham FC in the third place play its second year, Lee Dixon from FC Isle of Man said more than 2,000 spectators watched the four "incredibly competitive" matches played across the weekend. The island team has just completed its fourth season competing in the North West Counties Football League, finishing 11th in the Premier play in League Two of the English Football League, Radcliffe feature in the National League North, while Altrincham are part of the National League, the fifth tier of English revamped contest for 2025 provided a rest day on Saturday and a results table once the matches had been played. Fleetwood Town manager Pete Wild said the FC Isle of Man players "ran and worked as hard as they could for each other" and "defended for their lives" in the clash between the sides on Friday, which saw the visitors win with a late Manx team have "real good players. I think they've got that hunger and desire that I think any team needs", he Radcliffe co-manager Anthony Johnson said the teams taking part in the event had been "really brilliant"."From a football perspective, from a professionalism point of view, but also from the on the pitch stuff... it's been an unbelievable weekend", he said. Dixon said the feedback on accommodation, food, transport and local events such as the Douglas Beach Day - which people could visit on Saturday's rest day - had meant "the island had an amazing impact on the people that visited, who made some brilliant memories".Visiting players, coaches and supporters had also praised the turnout in the stands, the volunteers and the organisation of the friendly tournament."It bodes well going forward and for next year's tournament in terms of the confidence that we can have in ourselves, but also the confidence that teams will have in us have been able to deliver such a brilliant weekend in future," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Festival of football to return to Isle of Man
FC Isle of Man is set to host a festival of football as part of its preparations for the 2025-26 FC, Radcliffe Borough and Fleetwood Town will visit the island for a series of matches from 18 to 20 marks the second event of its kind hosted at the Isle of Man's national stadium, The Bowl, in Douglas and this time includes teams from across the English football Manx club is in its fourth season competing in the North West Counties Football League. Festival organiser and Ravens vice-chairman Lee Dixon said the team was "very excited" to see the event, which attracted hundreds of visiting fans, grow in its second said he hoped those who travelled to the island would "use the opportunity to experience our stunning island as well all come together to support the teams we all love".Fleetwood head coach Pete Wild said: "The facilities will be there for us to train, which will be fantastic, and certainly mixing into that is the team bonding element and being away together." National League club Altrincham's manager Phil Parkinson said being a festival it was "something different to what we would normally experience"."I think it adds a little bit of flavour to it gives the fans something to look forward to and make a weekend of as well," he League North side Radcliffe's co-manager Anthony Johnson said playing games on "neutral ground" ahead of the season would be good for the players involved. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook, external and X, external.
