JSL delegates made the decision at its annual general meeting last week.League secretary Alan Phillips said: ‘It is with regret that the Jersey Soccer League has decided to suspend all its activities for the season 2003-2004.’This step was taken at the annual general meeting on Wednesday 18 June.
All last season’s clubs attended the agm and they were already looking forward to next season.
This decision not to play next season was arrived at following a lengthy discussion and for a variety of reasons.’Among these was the failure of new blood to enter the management of the league; the lack of cooperation from certain other bodies and the failure to find sponsorship for the league.’The JSL was formed in the 1960s and in it’s heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s it had a full complement of 32 teams.
Many teams each season were refused entry simply because the league could not accommodate them.As recently as 1991 the JSL still had 31 clubs, eight playing in each of the top three divisions while there were seven in Division IV.JSL president Jack Renault, a founder member of the Soccer League, will now head a caretaker committee, comprising the executive of the league, to oversee the affairs of the league.
Alan Phillips also remains as temporary secretary.Phillips added: ‘It is hoped at a later date the league will resume its important role in providing football for those people who wish to play soccer on Sunday afternoons, or who are unable to play soccer at other times.’This season’s Division I championship was eventually won by Entwhistles FTI, after Everton Supporters’ Club scratched their last two games as they were unable to get teams out due to many of their players being involved in the Muratti and Muratti replay and then moving on to training for the NatWest Island Games.
