Sealand national football team
 | |
| Association | Sealand National Football Association |
|---|---|
| Confederation | NF-Board |
| Head coach | Ed Stubbs |
| Most Cap | Christian Gunn (5) |
| Top scorer | Dan Hughes (5) |
| MFA Code | SEA |
| First international | |
 Sealand 2 – 2 Åland Islands  (Unknown location; Summer 2004) | |
| Biggest win | |
 Raetia 1 – 6 Sealand (Char, France; August 10, 2014) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
.png){kind=small} Occitania 8 – 0 Sealand  (St. John's, Isle of man; July 5, 2013) | |
The Sealand national football team is an association football team representing the Principality of Sealand in international competitions. The team is a member of non-FIFA organisation, the NF-Board, although the team is yet to appear at the organisation's bi-annual tournament, the VIVA World Cup.
History
Foundation
The Sealand National Football Association (SNFA) was founded 30 May 2003, when Christian Olsen from Denmark wrote to Prince Regent Michael Bates about his veteran's side, Vestbjerg Vintage Idrætsforening, could represent Sealand at association football. Prince Bates accepted, and in the summer of 2004, Olsen's Sealand side played their first game against the Åland Islands, and surprised many by drawing 2–2. The following year, Sealand applied to join non-FIFA confederation the NF-Board, and were accepted as provisional members on 11 June 2005.[1] Earlier in 2005, Sealand also looked set to face Tibet in a match, but money proved to be to great an obstacle. After that, Olsen became inactive, and the SNFA fell into dis-use until 2009, when Neil Forsyth was appointed SNFA head. He announced intent in participating in the NF-Board's annual VIVA World Cup.[2]
Recent times
In February 2012, Sealand announced that Forsyth was arranging an international fixture[3] and a month later the SNFA announced that it would be playing the Chagos Islands in Godalming, Surrey in May 2012.[4][5] On 3 May 2012, Sealand announced its squad for the match against the Chagos Islands, including ex-Norwich City defender Simon Charlton as captain.[6] On 5 May 2012, Sealand played Chagos Islands at the ground of Godalming Town in Surrey, with Chagos winning 3–1.[7][8] On 25 August 2012 and 8 March 2013, Sealand played two games against the Alderney official football team winning both, the first game, held in Alderney, ended 1–1 in extra time and went to a penalty shootout, Sealand won 4–4 on penalties and went to sudden death. Sealand scored the winning penalty. Sealand and Alderney played again in March, Sealand's first game of 2013 at Meades Park, Francombe. Sealand won 2–1, Ryan Moore scoring his second goal in Sealand colours making him Sealand's record goal scorer.[9]
In the summer of 2013 Sealand took part in its first tournament, the Tynwald Hill Tournament. Sealand ended the tournament 5th after two loses against Tamil Eelam and Occitania, losing 5-3 and 8-0 respectfully, Sealand's heaviest losses. Sealand was able to bounce back in the final match, a 5th place fixture against Alderney which Sealand won 2–1.[10] After the tournament Sealand played a number of London league teams. Sealand's first match of 2014 and their first since the Tynwald Hill Tournament is against the Chagos Islands, their second match and Sealand's third at Godalming Town FC's Wey Court.[11]
Squad
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Churchman | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Toby Loveland | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Dan Hughes | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Matt Squires | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Lewis Manor | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Luke Wilson | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| Nathaniel Sharp | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| ||
| 3 | Jack Field | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| |
| 11 | Josh Killen | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| |
| 12 | Chris Jackson | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 0 | Unknown
| |
| 16 | Baron Chay Press | 0 December 0000 | 1 | 1 | Unknown
|
Notable Players
Ralf Little is the captain of the Sealand national football team. He had a brief career in the English non-league playing for clubs such as Maidstone United. Little is also known for his acting career, most famously playing Antony Royle in The Royle Family.
Gallery
- widths="200px"
-
Sealand and Chagos line up for the national anthems -
Sealand in possession of the ball against the Chagos Islands -
Sealand squad ahead of the fixture with the Åland Islands in 2004 -
Sealand playing Tamil Eelam at the Tynwald Hill International Football Tournament in 2013
Overall Record
| Opponent | P | W | D | L | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Åland |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Alderney |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
 Chagos Islands |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
 Panjab |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Raetia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
 Seborga |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Somaliland |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Tamil Eelam |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Occitania |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 33 |
International results and upcoming fixtures
| 22-12-2014 | Smethwick, England | Panjab |
Sealand |
4-1 |
| 10-05-2014 | France |  Seborga |
Sealand |
2-3 |
| 10-05-2014 | Char, Raetia | Raetia |
Sealand |
1-6 |
| 17-05-2014 | London, England | Sealand |
Somaliland |
2-2 |
| 05-05-2014 | Crawley, England | Chagos Islands |
Sealand |
1-1* |
| 23-02-2014 | Godalming, England | Sealand |
Chagos Islands |
4-2 |
| 07-07-2013 | St John's, Isle of Man | Sealand |
Alderney |
2-1 |
| 05-07-2013 | St John's, Isle of Man | Occitania |
Sealand |
8-0 |
| 04-07-2013 | St John's, Isle of Man | Sealand |
Tamil Eelam |
3-5 |
| 08-03-2013 | Godalming, England | Sealand |
Alderney |
2-1 |
| 25-08-2012 | Alderney | Alderney |
Sealand |
1-1‡ |
| 05-05-2012 | Godalming, England | Sealand |
Chagos Islands |
1-3 |
| 15-05-2004 | Åland |  Åland Islands |
Sealand |
2-2 |
‡ Sealand won 5–4 on penalties[12]
- Sealand lost 4–3 on penalties
References
- ↑ List Federations Affiliated to N.F.-Board - Qualities and dates of Affiliations of FA's (NF-Board)
- ↑ Fantasy football micronation style - In bed with Maradona - 3 Aug 2011
- ↑ Our first international football game in 2012 - Sealand government website 15 Feb 2012
- ↑ Sealand to play football international on 5th of May - Sealand government website 21 Mar 2012
- ↑ Sealand v Chagos on Saturday 5 May - The UK Chagos Support Association 15 Apr 2012
- ↑ Simon Charlton to captain Sealand - Sealand government website 3 May 2012
- ↑ GoalMine.mantonbradbury results & predicitions week 138
- ↑ Sealand v Chagos Islands - BBC 7 May 2012
- ↑ Sealand v Alderney - Sealandgov.org 9 March 2013
- ↑ Tynwald triumph for classy Occitania
- ↑ Sealand to meet Chagos Islands on February 23rd
- ↑ Sealand v Alderney - Channelonline.tv