The Isles of Scilly Football League is the UK’s smallest football league, but it has gained a unique place in history due to its fame and the fact that David Beckham once visited the island. The league consists of two teams, the Garrison Gunners and Woolpack Wanderers, who play each other 17 times every season. The league’s changing rooms are located on the Scilly Islands, and it has become a popular destination for tourists.
In 2007, the fame of the league attracted a host of big-name stars, including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Patrick Vieira, Anderson Daniele De Rossi, and Michael Ballack. The group arrived on the island for a training session with young footballers before relaxing on the beach with some fish and chips. However, as the press arrived, Beckham and his teammates had to leave, which led to league chairman Anthony Gibbons’ unique claim to fame.
In an interview with the BBC, Gibbons revealed that he filled in for Beckham during a press shoot. He said, “A guy from St Martin’s phoned the press to say Beckham was here, so a load of helicopters came over and he had to go. They still needed one last shot over the bay so I filled in for Beckham.”
The uniqueness of the league is unmatched, and emergencies sometimes take precedence over games. In one instance, a game was even lost because of cows. Gibbons explained that a farmer named Dave Mumford received a call during halftime saying that his cows had escaped. He had to run off to find them, and the team ended up losing 3-2.
The league has retained the same format since 1920, but with two annual cup competitions, there are plenty of opportunities for the teams to lift some silverware. The teams are never the same either, with players being picked with the toss of a coin. The island also hosts a semi-regular match against Penzance amateur side Dynamo Choughs for the Lyonesse Trophy.
The trophy caught the attention of FIFA, who wanted to display it in its official museum in Zurich because it was dubbed as the world’s smallest cup. Gibbons explained that they started playing Dynamo Choughs on their football tours in the early 2000s, and one of their players is a metal worker who decided to make the smallest trophy he could. When FIFA came over and said it would be great in their museum, he made a replica, and they’ve got it at the moment.
Despite its small size, people have tried to put beer in it when they’ve won it, but it’s not a big drink. The league is unique and has gained worldwide recognition due to its fame and popularity among tourists. It is an essential part of Scilly Islands’ culture and history and will continue to attract visitors from all over the world.