Manx Radio's Friday Sport

In tonight's programme:The first rounds proper of the Hospital Cup and Junior Cup form the majority of this weekend's Isle of Man football agendaIn rugby, a trio of Island sides are on the road for the final games of their respective seasons - In Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire Minor Conference League, both Vagabonds and Ramsey are on the road, with Ramsey's game having some important extra meaning, and Vagabonds Ladies are rounding out a steady campaign in Women's NC2 North (South) with a journey to the league championsAnd in hockey the 2026 Manx season has its grand finale this weekend with six trophies up for grabs across two days of action for this year's Isle of Man hockey cup finals weekendRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham, Dave Christian and Ben Cunningham

Results, reaction and analysis to all of the latest football and rugby action across the Isle of ManPLUS, we bring you the live draw for the first round proper of the 2026 Manx Quality Sheds Hospital Cup in Manx footballRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham, Karl Gartland and Dave ChristianAlso featuring the voices of Linda Alton-Heath and Dave Griffiths

On tonight's programme:The preliminary rounds of two cup competitions dominate the weekend Manx football scheuled with the 2026 Hospital Cup and Junior Cup competitions to get underwayAhead of what could be the finale to their season, we hear from FC Isle of Man's caretaker manager, Rick Holden, who's been reflecting on his time with the clubIn rugby, the promotion play-offs beckon for Douglas in Regional 2 North West whilst Vagabonds Ladies and Ramsey are in action on-Island in Women's NC2 North (South) and Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire Minor Conference League respectivelyTwo Isle of Man cricketers are preparing for the exciting opportunity of representing EuropeAnd two major marathon events are on the horizon in athletics over the next ten daysRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham and Dave Christian and also this week featuring Rick Holden, Lucy Barnett, Carl Hartmann, Sally Green and Dave Griffiths

Following the departure of Paul Jones and with FC Isle of Man stuck in an early relegation scrap in September, the Manx club looked to someone with experience at the top level of English football to get them back in the fight.Rick Holden has held the post of Caretaker Manager at 'The Ravens' for the majority of what's been a difficult season in the NWCFL Premier Division.Despite numerous challenges for all involved, under Holden, FC Isle of Man met its top priority of securing safety in the division with a few weeks of the campaign to spare.Now, FC Isle of Man are all set for their final match of the campaign away at Padiham on Saturday, 18 April.Ahead of the trip, we sat down with Rick to get his thought on the last few weeks, the season and as a whole and what he thinks the club needs to progress in both the short and long-term:

Results, reaction and analysis to all of the latest football and rugby action across the Isle of Man PLUS, we hear from the Andreas Racing Association on round two of its 2026 championships at Jurby this weekendAND, we hear the latest on preparations for the latest Isle of Man triathlon seasonRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham and Dave Christian, and featuring the voices of Neal Champion and Clara Isaac

In tonight's programme:Peel could close in on the Canada Life Men's Premier League leaders and the promotion race is hotting up in Ardern & Druggan Ltd. Division 2 as the latest Manx football fixtures beckonIn rugby, it's now or never for Douglas in their quest to reach the Regional 2 North West play-offs; Ramsey and Vagabonds are both on home soil in Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire Minor Conference League, and Douglas Celts have the chance to wrap up the Hartford Homes Manx Shield titleRacing action returns to Jurby Airfield for the second round of the 2026 ARA ChampionshipsOne of the Isle of Man's national hockey teams is gearing up to take part in an England Hockey Championship final across the waterAnd we hear about the plans underway for the 2026 Isle of Man triathlon seasonRob Pritchard is joined by Tony Mepham and Dave Christian, also featuring this week Neal Champion, Niamh Goddard and Clara Isaac

Preparations are now well underway for what's to come this year for a sport that has seen noticeable growth on the Isle of Man in recent years... triathlon.In 2026, Manx Tri Club is running an expanded programme of events for the campaign which will include a new competition to the series as well providing meetings for a variety of different ages and abilities.One of those who's been a part of the growing number taking up the sport is Clara Isaac, who, since starting around two years ago, has now gone on to excel, winning a bronze medal in triathlon at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney.Looking to the weeks and months ahead, Manx Radio sat down with Clara to find out what's to come in 2026, what's making triathlon more popular and why it's considered a welcoming community for anyone who wants to get involved:

The 2026 Easter Weekend sees the return of one of the most popular athletics events on the Manx calendar, the Easter Festival of Running.The series, which takes place from Friday, 3 April to Sunday, 5 April will see three races take place across three days with hundreds expected to take part.What's more, organisers have seen huge demand for this year's meeting with more than 770 pre-entries in total and roughly two-thirds of those involving participants and teams from off-Island.To find out more about this year's event, we sat down with festival organiser, Chris Quine and Isle of Man athletics correspondent, Dave Griffiths.They explain what makes this occasion so well sought after and which competitors are possibly the ones to watch out for across the three days

Match highlights of the NWCFL Premier Division clash between FC Isle of Man and City of Liverpool at The Bowl in Douglas'The Ravens' started the weekend needing only to avoid defeat to secure league safety against a City of Liverpool team requiring a win to keep their survival hopes aliveMatch commentary from Rob Pritchard and Darren Timson

On tonight's program:Results, reaction and analysis to all the latest local football, rugby, hockey across the Isle of Man plus we look ahead to FC IOM's Game at home. we also bring you the Hospital Cup draw as well as the Junior Cup draw.Ben Cunningham is joined by Tony Mepham, Karl Gartland and Dave Christian.

On tonight's programme:Bottom versus top in the Canada Life Men's Premier League and the opening ties of this year's Canada Life Women's FA Cup are among this weekend's upcoming football clashesIn rugby, it could be now or never for Douglas in their play-off hunt in Regional 2 North West; Vagabonds and Ramsey are both on the road in Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire and Vagabonds Ladies are on home territory in Women's NC2 North (South)Meanwhile, no fewer than four league titles remain there for the taking on Saturday in what will be the finale to 

Match highlights of the NWCFL Premier Division clash between FC Isle of Man and Cheadle Town at The Bowl in DouglasHoping to turn things around after back-to-back home defeats, 'The Ravens' hosted a Cheadle Town side hoping to build some momentum after one win in their last fiveMatch commentary from Rob Pritchard and Darren Timson

On tonight's program:We catch up with ARA Secretary Neal Champion looking ahead to the start of the 2026 Andreas Racing Association Championships in the north of the Island. Also Results, reaction and analysis to all the latest local football, rugby, hockey across the Isle of Man and we look ahead to FC IOM's Game at home. Ben Cunningham is joined by Tony Mepham, Dave Christian.

On tonight's programme:The current top two in men's football meet in the Ecap FA Cup semi-finals as part of this weekend's Isle of Man clashesWe hear from the new two-time Manx boxing champion following his latest success in Australia in the last weekIn rugby, Douglas face one of their Regional 2 North West play-off rivals; both Vagabonds teams return to action and it's South vs North in the Hartford Homes Manx CupSeveral league titles remain up for grabs going into the penultimate weekend of the 2026 Isle of Man men's and ladies hockey seasonAnd racing action returns to Jurby this weekend for the start of this year's ARA Championship calendarThis week featuring Tony Mepham, Sam Rennie, Dave Christian, Ben Cunningham and Neal Champion

The Isle of Man is known for it's ability to continuously produce top talent in motorsport, and for a young man from Port Erin, he's taking another step forward towards a big dream in 2026.Racing driver, Nickolas Ellis starts another exciting chapter in his career this year when he takes on the Lugier European Series.What's more, he'll be under the expert guidance of a three-time Le Mans 24 Hour champion for the duration of the campaign.After stepping back from racing in 2025 to focus on his studies, Ellis now has his sights firmly set on a good season ahead, and - as he's been explaining to Manx Radio - he holds some big ambitions in his sport in the long-term

This month (March 2026) Island-born professional boxer, Sam Rennie took his career to new heights by winning his second title out in Australia.The Manxman defeated Shamal Ram Anuj at the Thunderdome 53 event at Metro City in Northbridge, Australia to claim the vacant ANBF Australasian Super Featherweight title.That marked his second title success in less than a year, after also winning the WBC Australasian Silver Super Featherweight Crown in May 2025.What's more, Rennie remains undefeated in the pro ranks since his debut in 2024 with eight wins from eight, so what's the next step forward in the career of the rising star?Manx Radio has been speaking with Sam to find out how he now wants to push to the next level and, of course, how it now feels to be a two-time champion

Results, reaction and analysis to all the latest local football, rugby and hockey across the Isle of Man. Simon Quine is joined by Tony Mepham, Dave Christian and Ben Cunningham.

On tonight's show:In Football it's back to league action with some big games is all the leagues.In Rugby Vagabonds are on the road in the only fixture this weekend In Hockey two league titles could be decided this weekend depending on results elsewhere Ben Cunningham is joined by Tony Mepham and Dave Christian in tonight's program

Results, reaction and analysis to all the latest local football, rugby and hockey across the Isle of Man. plus we have the draw for the Ecap fa cup semi final as well as the GH wood cupBen Cunningham is joined by Tony Mepham, Dave Christian and Nathan Vaughan

On tonight's programme:Another hybrid weekend of league and cup action awaits in Manx football this weekend, including the first set of quarter-final fixtures in both the Ecap FA Cup and GH Corlett Woods CupWe hear from FC Isle of Man's caretaker manager ahead of his side's clash at The Bowl tomorrow against the in-form side in the NWCFL Premier DivisionIn rugby, Douglas will be looking to continue their play-off hunt in Regional 2 North West at home to Firwood Waterloo; Ramsey face a tough trip on the road in Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire; Vagabonds Ladies are back home at Ballafletcher in Women's NC2 North (South) and its West vs South in the Hartford Homes Manx ShieldTop darts players from across the Isle of Man, UK and the world have descended on Douglas for the 2026 Isle of Man International Darts FestivalAnd in hockey, cup final places are up for grabs on Saturday with the semi-finals of six cup competitions taking place around the IslandThis week featuring Tony Mepham, Rick Holden, Dave Christian,