Anglesey's adopted 'super fans' who've embraced the Island Games

BBC News

11-07-2025

A group of brothers and their friend with no connection to Anglesey have become "super fans" of the island's athletes.Brothers Rob, Richard and Pete Miller, along with friend Dave Pearson, have attended every Island Games since 2015."It is random that there's four random lads from Hertfordshire that support a Welsh island, but now whenever I go back on the A55 towards towards Anglesey it feels like I'm going to a second home," said Pete.With the multi-sport games held every other year, their adventures have taken them to the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey but also further afield to Gibraltar and the Swedish island of Gotland.Originally from Hertfordshire, the self-professed super fans had no prior connection to any of the competing islands or athletes, but are now part of the team's furniture.Such is their commitment to the Ynys Môn cause, they have now been given official roles with the 106-strong team of Anglesey athletes heading out to Orkney for this year's games.
The games started in 1985 on the Isle of Man to give the opportunity for young people to compete in an international competition against other islanders. They usually take place in June or July, and involve 24 islands from across the world, meaning participants can meet new people and learn about different cultures.Pete, now part of the media team, said his initial exposure was the 2011 Isle of Wight games as he was keen to attend the football matches."It was like £20 for the whole week to watch all these games... the likes of your Jerseys and the Guernseys, and then some other islands I've absolutely never heard of," he said."As soon as I got there I was like, this is amazing."And yet the competitiveness but the friendliness of it all.. I knew that I was on to something good."During the whole week I was texting my brothers and my mate called Dave, and I said, 'Look, you've got to come to this next time around, you'll love this'."
Deciding that they wanted to support one of the 24 competing islands, Ynys Môn eventually came up trumps and they all travelled to Jersey for 2015 - a tradition they've maintained ever since."When we got there we had some songs prepared, we took flags," Pete added."We wore the same colours as the football team all that kind of stuff, and it was an amazing week. "From that moment on we've just been part of the Ynys Môn family, we've been to every games since, and probably always will."
'The friendly games'
Their experience, however, is typical of what have become known as "the friendly games".Held between 12 and18 July the Scottish archipelago of Orkney will welcome about 2,200 athletes to compete in 12 sports including football, athletics, archery and swimming.
The 22nd staging of the games will see Saturday's opening ceremony attended and officially opened by the Princess Royal - Princess Anne - and hosted by broadcaster Lorraine Kelly.It will be Orkney's first time hosting the games, with participating islands including those as far flung as the Falkland Islands, Greenland, and Caribbean nations Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.The Faroe Islands will be next to host the competition in 2027, with the Isle of Man set to welcome competitors in 2029.
Anglesey had been due to host the next staging of the games in 2027 but later withdrew due to increased costs and the effects of Covid-19.But getting to Orkney is no mean feat, with the mainly amateur athletes having to raise much of the costs themselves.
'A huge commitment'
Forming part of the delegation will be gymnasts, for the first time in several years after gymnastics was left off the main games programme.Team co-ordinator, Catherine Rowley, says reaching the games means a lot of sacrifices for the athletes, who train out of their base in Holyhead.
"We haven't been part of the main games since 2017, its a huge difference", she said."A lot of these girls have been doing their GCSEs and A-levels, they've had to balance their revision and all of their time, to miss out on things with their friend."They've given a huge commitment, they train and awful lot of hours."With fundraising we're lucky that the island has really got behind us, the girls have gone in individually to different companies and asked for funding, its been brilliant."
Holyhead-based team member Mia, 18, will be taking part in her third Island Games but this will be her first as part of the main Anglesey delegation."I'm really excited to be going and able to watch the other sports as well while we're there," she said."I've had to take a lot of time out of revision so its been hard juggling everything."We've had to hold events like quizzes and raffles to raise money, its been around £700 each for accommodation and the bus."Teammate Nel, 17, from Llangefni says there's a camaraderie between all the gymnasts taking part."I'm happy that everything is now in place and the support has been amazing.. to represent my island and where I'm from is amazing."
Anglesey secured its record medal haul at the last games.Eleven of the 18 medals were won in athletics, with the team hoping for more success on the track this time out.The team will be heading out to Orkney with the intention of giving their all.But representing Wales as well as their island, the hope is that the returning party will also include at least a few medals.
Athletics co-ordinator Barry Edwards admitted that "momentum had been lost" after Anglesey withdrew from hosting the 2027 Games. However, he said they were taking a young team to Orkney and remained hopeful.
Ewan Jones, 20, from Valley, will be competing in his second games in the 200m and the 4 x 100m relay.He said: "I'm very proud of being from Anglesey and Wales and I think the competitiveness against other islands really helps."It was such a surprise in Guernsey as to how many people turned up, you almost feel famous."Its hard to describe but its unreal."