Victoria Park has signed a sponsorship deal with Geoff Martel, Captain of the England over-75s football team, as he looks to lead the side through a series of fixtures culminating in a clash with Germany this summer.
Geoff (pictured), who celebrated his eighty-first birthday this month, is an ambassador for veterans’ football, both locally and internationally. In 2022, he earned selection for England’s over-75s squad after standout performances in trial tournaments and went on to captain the team in international competition. Most notably, Geoff led the team to victory at the 2024 Veterans World Cup in Cardiff, where they defeated the hosts on penalties in a blistering final.
Victoria Park’s sponsorship will fund Geoff’s travel expenses, enabling him to join the England squad for a series of international fixtures.
The campaign has already got off to a strong start with England chalking up a 2-0 win against Wales earlier this month in the Aneurin Bevan Shield match at Barry Town United FC, where Geoff was named Man of the Match. Next, the team faces the USA in Denmark in May, followed by the ultimate clash against Germany on 30 July in Manchester – marking the 60th anniversary of England’s iconic 1966 World Cup victory.
Rob Jones, Victoria Park Director, said: “Part of our mission at Victoria Park is to support enhanced experiences and create a lifelong journey within the game. Geoff is a testament to what can be achieved at both a local and international level. We’re thrilled to support him and the England team in this exciting campaign, and hope that they have the chance to rewrite the history books when they take on Germany later this year.”
Geoff Martel said: “Football has opened up some incredible opportunities for me over the years, both here in Guernsey and further afield. Travelling off island to represent England is always an honour; however, it can be challenging, particularly from a financial perspective. I’m grateful to Victoria Park for supporting me in this next campaign, and hope it will inspire other islanders to pursue a long-term love of football.”
