An International Match for Cheadle Town FC...perhaps

This blog would like to pay tribute to the smallest country in the world - which is up for sale. Sealand consists of a man-made structure 6 miles off the coast of Suffolk. Population?...well, it consits of the family Bates, who squatted at the structure which used to belong to the government in the 1960's. Having gained squatters rights to the "building" they set up their own government, law and created their own country. Now that's enterprise!

In 1967–8 Britain's Royal Navy tried to remove the Bates family. As they entered territorial waters, Mr Bates tried to scare them off by firing warning shots from the former fort. As Bates was a British citizen at the time, he was summoned to court in England following the incident. The court ruled in Bates' favour that Sealand was outside British jurisdiction as it was beyond the three-mile limit of the country's waters. In 1975, Roy of Sealand (Mr Bates) introduced a constitution, followed by a flag, a national anthem, a currency and passports.

The Sealand national football team is represented by a Danish team. According to FIFI Wildcup (a tournament for micronations and/or those unrecognised by FIFA) website, the North Cyprus national football team beat Sealand 6-1, but it doesn't give any further details.

Perhaps Cheadle can arrange an international match with Sealand in the near future.