Tristan da Cunha FC

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Football was originally introduced to Tristan da Cunha in the 1920s, when the islanders would split into two teams and play each other for fun. The island's first "international" game was in 1940, when they played the crew of a Norwegian vessel.^[1] After this, regular games were played against visiting crews, until the islanders were evacuated in 1961 after Queen Mary's Peak's eruption. Following the islanders' return, football was not resumed, and it did not begin to become popular again until the 2000s.^[2]

Tristan da Cunha FC was formed in June 2005 by Leon Glass, manager and captain of the club, and a group of islanders wanting to bring organised football to the island.^{[2][3][citation needed]} The team is sponsored by Ovenstone Agencies.^[4]

One of the team's first victories came in 2008, after an engineering company from South Africa called Apple Construction spent a number of months on the island building a new fish processing plant to replace one that had been destroyed by a recent fire. While on the island, the South African engineering team decided to form a football team and play against Tristan da Cunha FC. After two matches which both ended in a 4–4 draw, the engineering team challenged Tristan da Cunha FC to a final and dared them to wager their recently won trophy in the island's domestic competition. Tristan da Cunha won the match 14–2.^[5]

Due to the island's remoteness and small population, it is difficult for the club to schedule both 11-a-side games and away games. Therefore, Tristan da Cunha FC more commonly plays 6-a-side games.^[2] The team often splits into two 6-a-side teams, the Tristan da Cunha Tigers and the Sharks.^[4] In 2010, the TDC Tigers defeated the Sharks 7–0.^[6][2][4] Steve Swain scored a hattrick in the game, and Patrick Green and Leon Glass scored two goals each.

On 28 May 2010, they played the crew of the RFA Black Rover.^[7] The tigers defeated them 9–0.^[2][1][4][8]

On 30 October 2011, the tigers played the crew of HMS Clyde of the Royal Navy. Shane Green scored a hattrick to propel Tristan da Cunha FC ahead, and the final score was 3–2.^[9][10] The next year in 2012, an 11-a-side game took place between the club and the local Fish Processing Factory. The tigers won 2–1. In October 2012, Tristan da Cunha FC played the crew of HMS Protector, winning 8–0.^[11][12] Additionally, in 2012, the club was invited to a 5-a-side championship in Mallorca. However, due to shipping schedules and no travel funding, the tigers were unable to attend.^[5]

On 30 January 2015, the club played the crew of HMS Dragon. The tigers lost 0–2.^[13][14]

The club plays all of their home games at American Fence Playing Field.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.