Orkney Island Games football team reunite 40 years on

In 1985 around 700 athletes from 15 islands travelled to the Isle of Man to compete in a series of sports contests.

The inter-island event was intended to be a one-off but the so-called “small islands mini-Olympics” was such a success it has continued every other year.

The medallists included the Orkney U16 football team, which claimed a bronze in the inaugural five-a-side tournament.

On Sunday, the original team gathered for the first time in decades, ahead of Orkney’s opening men’s football match on 13 July.

Lucky for Orkney, the men’s football team won their match 3-0 against Frøya in front of 1,875 fans, marking a perfect celebration of the island’s community spirit.

The win was made even more special as Ivan Rendall – a 1985 team member who was injured for the tournament – watched his sons Lee and Connan represent Orkney on the pitch 40 years later.

This year the Island Games return to Scotland for the first time since 2005, when it was hosted by Shetland.

Twelve sporting events will be the focus of the week-long event, with up to 24 island groups competing for medals.

Back in 1985, the football tournament took the form of a five-a-side U16s competition.

One of the seven 1985 team members, Andrew Crossley, flew up for the anniversary from Yorkshire.

Mr Crossley, who played in the squad said: “It means the world to be coming back to Orkney and seeing the boys again after all these years.

“We’ve all stayed in touch, but to be here in person, on the 40th anniversary, is something truly special.”