THE 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament will be held on Anglesey, officials have announced.

With the Ynys Mon Island Games Committee's bid to host the International Island Games (IIG) on Anglesey in 2025 progressing well, they have now received this further boost.

Gibraltar, who are hosting the IIG tournament in 2019, have been unable to include football as part of the event, due to only one of their football pitches being deemed suitable to play on.

Ynys Mon's bid committee were quick to step in and offer to host the football themselves on the island in just over a year's time and were successful in doing so.

Gareth Parry, project manager for Ynys Mon's 2025 bid and the 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament confirmed the news this week.

"I’m delighted to announce that Ynys Mon has been given the green light to host the football tournament on the island from the June 15 to 22 in 2019," he said.

“In bidding for the 2025 International Island Games we put ourselves forward for hosting the football-only competition in 2019 and as such,have now been successful.

The tournament will see 24 islands from across the world descend on Anglesey to take part in what promises to be a high-quality footballing event.

"To welcome an international football competition to Ynys Mon will be a fantastic experience, not just for our island in the short-term, but also as we look to host the whole games in 2025 too,” Mr Parry continued.

“We are working hard regarding our plans for hosting the 2025 games to ensure that there is a lasting legacy on Anglesey that will benefit all on the island for generations to come."

Mr Parry also spoke of his hopes on how the 2019 tournament could have a long-lasting effect on Anglesey's footballing future.

He believes that the "buzz and excitement" for the impending arrival of such talented footballers from around the globe on the island next summer, can spark the re-emergence of an Anglesey Academy side and many more positives for Ynys Mon's footballers.

Plans are already in place for the development of a top football academy on Anglesey.

"There is so much passion and love towards football on the Island, we just need a mechanism to work together to improve opportunities for all ages and all genders to see Ynys Mon’s football thriving once again.” Mr Parry said.