Craziest league in the world

First place one season, last in the next. This would undoubtedly be an achievement that would make history in any footballing nation. But not on the British island of St Mary’s in the Scilly Isles. They have the craziest soccer league in the world, and have done for the past 39 years. Forget about El Classico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, forget about Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter and forget about the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic. Meet the world’s biggest rivals - the Garrison Gunners and the Woolpack Wanderers. Together they form the smallest league in the world that consists of only two teams.

St Mary’s is the largest in the group of islands named Scilly. The forgotten ‘reef’ is 45 kilometers away from the British mainland and has only 1600 inhabitants. Most of them are pensioners. The Island survives on income from tourism and is also known for its flowers. Flowers of numerous types are bred there because of the favorable weather conditions on the island and then sold in Great Britain.

The island was already settled as early as the Stone Age. Afterwards St Mary, because of its dangerous reefs and inconvenient harbours, became the last resting place for numerous ships and also for James Wilson. He was Britain’s prime minister between 1964 and 1974 and had a vacation spot on the island.

The Garrison Gunners and the Woolpack Wanderers play 13 games per season and they are the only contenders for the cup laurel. There is only one pitch and it’s called Garrison Field. On the entire island there are only 40 people that know how to play football – and even then, only a little. The coach and president of the Woolpacks is 65 year old retired General Chas Wood and at the present time there is a girl in Garrison’s squad.