Anguilla
The Anguilla Football Association
The modern history of the game of football on the island dates back to 1969 when the United Kingdom invaded the island with paratroopers to quell the political wrangling going on between Anguillians and Colonel Robert L. Bradshaw, leader of the then triune state St. Kitts-Nevis & Anguilla. The Englishmen could be seen playing football shirtless trying to get a tan against the youngsters across the island.
While there was no formal structure to football during that time, all of the major villages and/or communities fielded teams to compete in a local tournament put on by the then Department of Community Development. These annual tournaments led several persons to come together and form the Anguilla Football Association.
And so in 1990, the Anguilla Football Association became officially affiliated with the then Leeward Islands Football Association (LIFA), the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). In 1996, CONCACAF and FIFA accepted the Associations bid for membership into those football governing organisations. Fifteen years since its affiliation to the world governing body, the Anguilla FA has been a fledgling Association that has served as a case study for several Associations.
The organisation and operation of its Women's Football Programme have received high commendation from the likes of Hope Powell (England National Women's Team Coach) and Joseph S. Blatter (President of FIFA). At the 2011 FIFA Women's Football Symposium in Germany, the Anguilla FA was asked to share its best practices with attendees as part of the case studies being analysed. In 2006, the Men's National Team was invited to Germany as the guests of the German government in general and the City of Bad Neustadt in particular as the "33rd team" of the FIFA Men's World Cup. The Anguillian team was the poster child of the German's FIFA World Cup theme, "A time to welcome friends".
In 2010, FIFA President Joseph Blatter, former CONCACAF President Jack A. Warner travelled to Anguilla and joined the Anguilla Football Association, the Government and People of Anguilla to inaugurate the Association's first FIFA Goal Project. The Association transformed a US$400,000.00 grant from FIFA into the construction of a US$2.5 million dollar facility - a Technical Centre complete with natural grass pitch, dressing rooms, conference room, concession stands, 1100 seat stadium, the Association's offices, fitness room, media centre and VIP Lounge.
Presently, the Anguilla FA has a Men's League and a Women's League that run from September to March and April to June respectively. There are nine (9) members in the Association.
Members of Anguilla FA
Roaring Lions FC
Sunset Homes Attackers FC
Salsa Ballers FC
Spartans FC
Super Stars FC
Shining Stars FC
Youngsters FC
Gazelles FC
Lil' Soldiers FC
Executive Committee
President - Raymond E. G. Guishard
1st Vice President - Diana Claxton-Carty
2nd Vice President - Rawle Hazell
Member - Alison Hughes
Member - Kay Gumbs
General Secretary - Damien E. Hughes
Contact Information
Tel: +1 (264) 497-7323
Fax: +1 (264) 497-7324
Email:
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Physical Address
#2 Queen Elizabeth Ave
AFA Technical Centre
The Valley
AI-2640
Anguilla
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 1318
The Valley
AI-2640
Anguilla