The Manx International Football Association’s representative side are one of eight teams headed to Northern Cyprus for ConIFA’s latest European Football Cup.
The islanders, who are led one again by St George’s manager Chris Bass Sr, take on competition holders Padania in their opening group match before games against Felvidék and Szekely Land over the following two days.
With temperatures in Cyprus expected to be in the mid to late 20s, all the games are taking place at night.
In the week-long tournament’s other group are the hosts, Abkhazia, Karpataja and South Ossetia.
Bass Sr named his final squad for the competition a couple of weeks ago and took the majority away to Greater Manchester at the weekend for a game against North West Counties Football League outfit Stockport Town.
The Manx won the encounter 7-0 thanks to goals from debutants Sean Doyle (2), Ste Whitley (2) and Dan Simpson plus a strike apiece from Sean Quaye and Liam Cowin.
The squad has been hit this week by the withdrawal of America-based defender Liam Doyle.
Doyle has become a regular starter for second-tier outfit Swope Park Rangers in recent weeks and he’s made the difficult decision to stay in the States and try and cement his place in the USL side’s starting XI.
Bass Sr was, however, boosted by the news last week that son Chris Bass Jr will now travel to the Mediterranean after initially being ruled out of the trip because of family commitments.
Full squad:
Andy Perry (St George’s), Sam Holliday (DHSOB), Sean Quaye (St George’s), Marc Kelly (Peel), Johnny Myers (St George’s), Seamus Sharkey (Sligo Rovers), Chris Cannell (Corinthians), Sam Caine (St George’s), Liam Cowin (Rushen United), Frank Jones (St George’s), Alex Harrison (St Mary’s), Jack McVey (St George’s), Mike Williams (Rushen United), Ciaran McNulty (St George’s), Joey Morling (Corinthians), Sean Doyle (Corinthians), Conor Doyle, Brian Crellin (St Mary’s), Dan Simpson (Corinthians), Ste Whitley (Corinthians), Furo Davies (St George’s), Chris Bass Jr (St George’s).
Follow the tournament online at https://conifa.solidtango.com/