Sport is part of the cultural heritage of the Isle of Wight.
Whether it is by following the rise of international stars who started their careers on the Island or through grassroots leagues and competitions that involve thousands of people every weekend, sport is at the very heart of Isle of Wight life.
But in recent years, numbers participating have declined across a number of key sports and the very fabric of this strand of our heritage is at some risk.
Decline in facilities
One factor aiding this has been a decline in sports facilities. Go anywhere on the mainland and you see top-notch football, cricket, rugby and athletics facilities but on the Island that is not always the case.
A team of people trying to reverse this trend have now come together. The IW Sports Development Group was formed in 2024 by then IW High Sheriff Graham Biss and meet regularly to try and put the Island on a par with mainland areas.
Biss: Proactively support future investment in sport and sporting facilities
Graham said,
“Sport is an important part of Island life, and the members of Sports Development Group have come together to support further investment in the sector.
“By working together with a shared purpose, we believe we can make a real difference. Old and young deserve to have the opportunity to play whatever sport they enjoy to the level they choose.”
“The aim of the group, which, going forward, will be known as Sporting Island, is to proactively support future investment in sport and sporting facilities on the Island.
“We have some great clubs, groups and individual sports people on the Island but sometimes we don’t always appreciate the true value sport plays in our community. We would like to support everyone to enjoy sport and to fulfil their potential.”
Included within the group
Graham has involved a number of people from the IW Council, public health, Island sport governing bodies, other Island sporting organisations and others he felt would add to the expertise needed.
Apart from Graham, members of the group are Alex Barton (IW Cricket Board), Sacha Nicholas (Hampshire FA), Chad Oatley (Sport England), Kevin Winchcombe, (Island Games Association). Claire Beasley and Alan Marriott (IW Sports Foundation), Alec Broome, Lee Matthews and Alex Minns (IW Council), Maddie Bune (Public Health), Julian Wadsworth (Community Action IW), Nathan Persaud (Sported) and Gil Robertson.
These people were chosen for their experience of sport and other spheres of life on the Island and Graham said everyone chosen had plenty to bring to the table.
Concentrating on six Island sports
They are currently concentrating on six Island sports: football, cricket, rugby, tennis, basketball and netball.
This decision was taken to concentrate minds and not spread the group’s focus too thinly.
“We don’t want to cut across what the Sports Foundation, IW Council sports unit, Island Games Association and others are doing so our remit is very much about developing sport on the IW…exactly what it says on the group’s tin.”
The monthly meetings of Sporting Island have regular guests, including IW Council leader Councillor Phil Jordan, council planners to discuss the possibility of accessing Section 106 money for sport, Newport FC to talk about the challenges of making their new ground project work, and people with an interest in developing sports pitches here.
Graham said,
“Up to now we have been really focused on gathering information about the state of play with Island sport but now we need to begin really making a difference.”
News shared by Alan on behalf of Sporting Island. Ed
