The Academy Moves to Victoria Park

St Sampson’s, Guernsey – In a landmark moment for Guernsey football, Victoria Park officially opened in March 2025, providing the island with a long-awaited, state-of-the-art home for the sport. Soon after, the GFA Aztech Academy completed its relocation to the new facility, marking a major step forward for youth development on the island.

A new chapter at Victoria Park

Guernsey’s £10 million purpose-built football venue, Victoria Park, opened to the public on 29 March 2025, hosting its inaugural match: Guernsey FC vs Westfield FC, which ended in a 1–1 draw. The following day, a club-wide festival brought the island’s football community together, including the first-ever Girls’ Community Festival and a junior football showcase for boys and girls across Guernsey.

At halftime during the opening fixture, a squad of Year 5 Aztech Academy players delivered a spirited performance on the pitch, reflecting the academy’s immediate and visible connection to its new home.

Raising the Standard: What Victoria Park brings to the GFA Aztech Academy

The GFA Academy, sponsored by Aztech and known for its innovative training approach, now benefits from full-time access to Victoria Park’s elite-level infrastructure—most notably its all-weather 3G main pitch, modern clubhouse, and video analysis technology.

One of the most significant additions is the multi-camera performance analysis system, now central to the academy’s development model. Training sessions and matches can be recorded from multiple angles, giving coaches the tools to deliver precise, visual feedback. Players can now benefit from clear insights into their movement, decision-making, and tactical awareness, helping them accelerate their growth and improve performance with professional-level detail.

“The ability to review training and games with players using high-quality footage is a game-changer,” said Ross Allen, Guernsey FC forward and GFA Aztech Academy Manager. “It helps coaches be more specific, and players can actually see where and how they can improve.”

Community, Access, and Ambition

Allen praised the academy’s move as a defining moment for local sport:

“This is a huge moment for the island. We’ve got young players training with tools and facilities that wouldn’t look out of place at professional clubs in the UK. It’s going to raise the bar for what’s possible here.”

He also highlighted the venue’s inclusive purpose:

“What’s even more exciting is how accessible this space is. It’s not just for elite players — Victoria Park is designed for everyone. From kids kicking a ball for the first time to veterans playing walking football, this is a place the whole island can feel proud of.”

GFA committed to growing the game

Guernsey FA CEO Gary Roberts described the launch as a transformational moment:

“Victoria Park’s facilities are second to none. It’s an inclusive, purpose-built home that supports players of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.”

Years in the making, Victoria Park marks a major milestone for football in Guernsey. It provides the GFA with its first permanent headquarters—a long-awaited central hub for the island’s football community. The site features a modern clubhouse, changing rooms, physio rooms, meeting spaces, and covered spectator stands, offering a professional-standard environment for players, coaches, officials, and supporters alike. This purpose-built facility brings together all aspects of the game under one roof, creating a lasting home for football at every level.

Looking ahead: What this means for football on the island

• Expanded academy reach: With increased space and access to facilities, the GFA Academy can now welcome more young players, with plans for a new development tier underway.

• Stronger girls’ football pathways: The presence of Wildcats (ages 5–11), girls’ academy sessions, and Guernsey FC Women’s fixtures at Victoria Park will fuel continued growth in the women’s game.

• Community for all: Victoria Park isn’t just a high-performance centre—it’s a true community hub. Local clubs, schools, and social groups will have access to the pitch and facilities, while inclusive programmes like walking football and new wellbeing initiatives aim to connect people of all ages through sport.

  
  

“This isn’t just a new facility—it’s a new era,” Allen concluded. “And it’s one that’s going to give kids on Guernsey the belief that they can go as far as they want in the game, right from their own backyard.”

As the GFA Aztech Academy settles into life at Victoria Park, Guernsey football enters a bold new phase—where technology meets tradition, and the beautiful game truly belongs to everyone.