SO far in my blogs during this current World Cup, I have written about a couple of very small international teams that I have seen play – Liechtenstein and Sark.
But I can top this by telling you about matches featuring a tiny ocean-based micronation. It is called The Principality of Sealand and incorporates a population of just two people although this sometimes increases for four!
I have been fortune enough to watch a few of their games:
Sunday 16th June 2013
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Shalford 5, Sealand 3
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at Witley Recreation Ground, Witley, Surrey
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Attendance 17
Sunday 19th January 2014
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East London Elite 1, Sealand 6
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at Chase High School, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
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Attendance 17
Monday 4th August 2014
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Dunsfold 2, Sealand 2
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King George V Playing Field, Dunsfold, Surrey
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Attendance 26
So who exactly are Sealand and where are they located? Well this is quite an extraordinary story!
Based on the offshore Roughs Tower platform in the North Sea approximately six and a half miles off the coast of Suffolk, Sealand has claimed to be an independent nation since Roy Bates founded it in the 1960’s.
Measuring 168 feet by 188 feet, it had previously been an abandoned and derelict military defence fort dating back to the Second World War. The Sealand Government web site explains how Mr Bates acquired control:
“Roy proceeded to occupy Roughs Tower on Christmas Eve 1966…After consulting his lawyers, Roy decided to declare this fortress island the independent state of Sealand, claiming ‘Jus Gentium’ (Law of Nations) over a part of the globe that was ‘Terra Nullius’ (Nobody’s Land)… The founding of this country was marked by the raising of a newly designed flag.”
Roy Bates passed away in 2012. Nowadays, his son Michael and grandsons James and Liam are the Princes of Sealand.
There is wide-ranging merchandise for sale on their website including Sealand stamps, the Sealand coat of arms, a Sealand identity card, mugs, tee-shirts, key rings, flags and a Sealand history book.
Meanwhile, the Sealand National Football Association have been playing matches since 2004. Guest players are procured from the English mainland. They have included former Bolton Wanderers defender Simon Charlton and actor Ralf Little.
In one of those fixtures I witnessed against East London Elite, Chay Press scored a stunning hat-trick for Sealand to defy all in play Betting!
Chay told me this week: “I became involved because I am good friends with both the younger princes, James and Liam. They invited me to play for their team as they knew of my passion for Sealand and football in general. Other players were recruited via the manager Neil Forsyth and Sealand’s wider community.
“Our team has received great backing from the Sealand Government. They have covered travel expenses for coaches, flights and accommodation as well as supplying kits and tracksuits for the players.
“On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed some highs on the pitch. I was the first man to score a hat trick for Sealand. I also grabbed an injury time equaliser against the Chagos Islands at Crawley Town’s stadium. Overall, I have scored four goals in five appearances - some of which were as a substitute.
“A low point for me though was missing a penalty on my Sealand debut when we played away to Alderney on the Channel Islands in 2012. I skied it over the crossbar in front of what seemed like the entire population of the island.
Local newspaper reporters and BBC News were there too. Much to all my mates’ delight, it was the worst penalty I’ve ever taken and I’ve produced some bad ones in my time!
“All in all, I feel it is a massive honour for me to represent Sealand. I’m pleased that my two friends have been continuing and developing what their grandfather started. It is cool how well recognised Sealand is around the world. I’m also hugely proud of the fact I’m a Baron of Sealand.”
The last Sealand football fixture was back in 2014. Having seen them fulfil three away games in the past, I often wonder what the betting odds would be for me to see a home match at Roughs Tower.
On reflection, that would be extremely problematic. The compact offshore platform is probably only big enough to stage five-a-side action and the match ball would no doubt repeatedly get kicked into the sea!
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 25th November 2022
