Ready for the new beach soccer promo, from left, Alex Breingan, Corbin Ricketts, Darren Powell, Harry Groves, Sam Harding, Josh Younie, Jack Wedderkop and, front, middle, Gianpaolo Giancovich. Picture by Ashley Vaughan.
BEACH SOCCER
THE Bees will be bidding to win their eighth league title in 11 years when the new beach soccer season kicks off in Ryde on Sunday.
Last season’s champions, The Bees, are one of only four teams to have won the Ryde Taxis Beach Soccer Premier League, which begins its 11th season this weekend.
Among the challengers will be last season’s runners-up, the Wight Stripes, plus former winners, Sandown Sociedad.
The IW league is regarded by the FA as the best in the country, largely because of the number of players who have gone on to play at national and international level.
Luke Kerr, who runs the league, said: "We are determined to make sure beach soccer stays and grows on the IW and continues to feed the national team.
"The last few years have been hard, due to the current economic climate, however, thanks to our key partners, Wightlink, Island Scaffolding, Ryde Taxis and RCT Trophies, we have been able to continue to deliver the best sand soccer leagues in the UK."
Sunday’s action starts at 11am.
For more information about the IW beach soccer league, visit www.iwbsa.com or e-mail info@iwbsa.com.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk