| Softball was first played in Jersey in approximately 1991 when a group of friends formed a team to play against Bankers and Farmers. The first games were organised by an American living in the island with the help of some locals who were eager to play the game.
 Word spread throughout Jersey and by 1993 the Jersey Softball Association was formed and the first league was structured. Since then the Jersey Softball Association has gone from strength to strength with even more Islanders participating in the Worlds most popular team sport.
The Jersey Softball Association is run by a commitee selected by the players and headed up by a president. The committee meet once a month throughout the year to plan the league, arrange fundraising and organise the social events.
More recently the JSA has been hosting it own Softball Tournament during the liberation day bank holiday, and sending a Jersey team to participate in UK events. Softball was first played in Jersey in approximately 1991 when a group of friends formed a team to play against Bankers and Farmers. The first games were organised by an American living in the island with the help of some locals who were eager to play the game.
Word spread throughout Jersey and by 1993 the Jersey Softball Association was formed and the first league was structured. Since then the Jersey Softball Association has gone from strength to strength with even more Islanders participating in the Worlds most popular team sport.
The Jersey Softball Association is run by a commitee selected by the players and headed up by a president. The committee meet once a month throughout the year to plan the league, arrange fundraising and organise the social events.
More recently the JSA has been hosting it own Softball Tournament during the liberation day bank holiday, and sending a Jersey team to participate in UK events. | |
| In 2001 the inaugural inter-island softball match took place. The match, Jersey –V– Guernsey, was held in Guernsey with only one team from each island participating for Channel Islands honours.
 The Jersey Squad, lead by the then Island Manager and Coach, Graeme Ferguson, worked hard in the run up to the match. Guernsey were no pushovers having had a national team established for many years with the added experience of playing at European level for some time, but Jersey shocked the Sarnians with a last-gasp win – by just one run! It all came down to the final pitch in the final innings.
2002 saw the introduction of a second island team into the Inter Insular competition, and since then there has been two island teams participating for the coveted silverware and all important bragging rights.
Since that inaugural game, Jersey has won all but one of each of the island matches and in 2006 Jersey had the added fortune of winning the ‘grand slam’ by winning both Uptons (league champions) and both Island matches over a two day weekend in September. In 2001 the inaugural inter-island softball match took place. The match, Jersey –V– Guernsey, was held in Guernsey with only one team from each island participating for Channel Islands honours.
The Jersey Squad, lead by the then Island Manager and Coach, Graeme Ferguson, worked hard in the run up to the match. Guernsey were no pushovers having had a national team established for many years with the added experience of playing at European level for some time, but Jersey shocked the Sarnians with a last-gasp win – by just one run! It all came down to the final pitch in the final innings.
2002 saw the introduction of a second island team into the Inter Insular competition, and since then there has been two island teams participating for the coveted silverware and all important bragging rights.
Since that inaugural game, Jersey has won all but one of each of the island matches and in 2006 Jersey had the added fortune of winning the ‘grand slam’ by winning both Uptons (league champions) and both Island matches over a two day weekend in September. | |
| In 2004 Jersey entered a team in the World Series tournament held in the UK. The Jersey team were seeded 14 out of 14 sides and were drawn in one of the most difficult groups which included Canada, the Rest of the World and European runners-up, Ireland.
A squad of 14 travelled to the venue at the Royal Holloway and Bedford College, Surrey. Underdogs they may have been but the Jersey team did not disappoint. Their first game set the tone. Up bright and early, they dispatched an overconfident Rest of the World team 13-4. Other wins against Ireland, Canada and the USA saw the Jersey Team finish a superb third in their first ever Softball World Series. Jersey may not of been on the Softball radar before this tournament, but they sure are now.
In 2005 and 2006 a combined Channel Island side competed in the World Series tournament. The team finished 3rd in 2005 and in 2006 a disappointing 7th place. With just one game being the difference between 7th and 3rd their performance was actually much better than it looked on paper. In 2004 Jersey entered a team in the World Series tournament held in the UK. The Jersey team were seeded 14 out of 14 sides and were drawn in one of the most difficult groups which included Canada, the Rest of the World and European runners-up, Ireland.
A squad of 14 travelled to the venue at the Royal Holloway and Bedford College, Surrey. Underdogs they may have been but the Jersey team did not disappoint. Their first game set the tone. Up bright and early, they dispatched an overconfident Rest of the World team 13-4. Other wins against Ireland, Canada and the USA saw the Jersey Team finish a superb third in their first ever Softball World Series. Jersey may not of been on the Softball radar before this tournament, but they sure are now.
In 2005 and 2006 a combined Channel Island side competed in the World Series tournament. The team finished 3rd in 2005 and in 2006 a disappointing 7th place. With just one game being the difference between 7th and 3rd their performance was actually much better than it looked on paper. | |
| Jersey revived its tournament in 2005 with 4 visiting sides and 1 local side participating over two days. The visiting teams were Great Britain Whites, Great Britain Blues, Ireland and Guernsey.
The GB teams ran away with the tournament but it was the inter-insular games that provided the most excitement. Jersey won both their meets against their inter-Island rivals. The standard of play throughout the tournament was very high and Jersey was up there with the best.
Word spread that the Jersey Slowpitch Softball Tournament is ‘the one’ in which to participate and 14 teams took part in 2006.
Along with the two Jersey teams, 12 travelled to the Island for some high level softball over a two day weekend in May. Both the Irish teams – ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Batpak’ – won the silverware.
The JSA Tournament has now become a permanent fixture on the UK Softball calendar and all teams are welcome. Jersey revived its tournament in 2005 with 4 visiting sides and 1 local side participating over two days. The visiting teams were Great Britain Whites, Great Britain Blues, Ireland and Guernsey.
The GB teams ran away with the tournament but it was the inter-insular games that provided the most excitement. Jersey won both their meets against their inter-Island rivals. The standard of play throughout the tournament was very high and Jersey was up there with the best.
Word spread that the Jersey Slowpitch Softball Tournament is ‘the one’ in which to participate and 14 teams took part in 2006.
Along with the two Jersey teams, 12 travelled to the Island for some high level softball over a two day weekend in May. Both the Irish teams – ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Batpak’ – won the silverware.
The JSA Tournament has now become a permanent fixture on the UK Softball calendar and all teams are welcome. | |
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