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Over the years a major sports event in the calendar for the Channel Islands has always been the Muratti Vase, the key inter-island football championship
The tournament began in 1905 following the foundation of the Guernsey Football Association in 1893 and the Jersey Football Association in January 1905, with both islands also then becoming affiliated to the English Football Association.
Having received confirmation from the English Football Association to hold the tournament, the first match took place between Guernsey and Alderney at the Cycling Grounds in Guernsey, which the hosts won 6-0 in front of 800 fans. Guernsey then went on to compete in the first ever final on the 27th April 1905 against Jersey at Springfield. The match saw a victory for Guernsey by 1-0 with the goal by F.Stranger watched by some 2,000 spectators.
3.Postcard of a group of football spectators at the Muratti in Jersey in 1928. JERSM/2004/00087/1205.
Throughout the years since its 1905 beginning, Jersey have been victorious 59 times and Guernsey 49 times, with Guernsey winning 2-1 in the most recent encounter in 2026. There has only ever been one year where the trophy was shared, and this was in 1937. Following a 2-2 draw at Springfield after extra time, the subsequent replay led to another draw of 3-3 after extra time, and the decision was made to share the trophy between Jersey and Guernsey.
Although the competition has been dominated by Jersey and Guernsey, Alderney did break the trend in 1920. After a 1-0 victory for Guernsey against Jersey in the first round, the final was held. With some 4,500 spectators watching on, Alderney took the lead following a delivery by Lihou which evaded Guernsey’s two fullbacks and ended up in the back of the net. With no further goals, Alderney were awarded the trophy for their one and only time at the Westmount ground in Jersey. This was perhaps not quite the shock imagined however as Alderney had earlier in the month beaten Guernsey 6-2 in the Peace Cup.
4.Channel Islands Football Championship gold medals awarded to Dixie A’Court in 1976 & 1977. JERSM/2018/00036/048.
Across the years there have been few gaps, however occasions on which the competition did not take place were between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War, from 1940 to 1946 due to the Second World War and Occupation, and in more recent times, in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. These breaks during the war years did however establish new competitions, with both the Peace Trophy and Victory Cup being held in 1919 and 1946. The results of these alternative tournaments were as follows:
- 1919 – Guernsey beat Jersey 2-0 in the Victory Cup and Guernsey B won 3-1 against Alderney in the Peace Cup
- 1946 – Jersey played Guernsey twice in the Peace Trophy, winning the games 7-0 at home and 4-0 away
For over 120 years, these games have naturally seen numerous football legends emerge from the Channel Islands, none more so than one Jersey player whose medals, cap and other awards can be found in the museum collection. Derek ‘Dixie’ A’Court was a prominent figure in the tournament playing a key role in Jersey’s defence. Gaining some 19 caps for Jersey in a career spanning from 1973-1987, locally he also won numerous awards for his league clubs Magpies, St Peter and First Tower United. Two of the gold medals that he was awarded in 1976 & 1977 for Muratti victories against Guernsey, can be seen here with his Jersey cap, and a photograph showing him holding the trophy aloft.
Photograph of Dixie A’Court holding the Muratti Vase at Springfield Stadium on 9th May 1976. Image from the Jersey Evening Post (JEP) Photographic Collection held at Jersey Archive. L/A/75/A3/1/979A)
Muratti cap which belonged to Dixie A’Court. JERSM/2018/00036/001.
