If this first month of 2025 is anything to go by, it’s clear that VPFC is set for another fantastic year of growth and achievement. We’re thrilled to share three exciting firsts that have kicked off our year in style:
- Our first league matches played at The Woollams Playing Fields
- The debut match for our second league team, VPFC U8 Victorians
- The launch of our first mixed team
Both our existing U10 league team and our brand-new U8 team played their first matches at Woollams last weekend, a major milestone for VPFC. This marks the culmination of a year-long search for a league home and months of discussions with OA Sport, who are responsible for the site. I couldn’t be prouder to have Woollams serve as our home for league football – it’s a fantastic location!
The Woollams Playing Fields were created when the Woollams Trust converted 73 acres of the Cheapside Farm, off Harpenden Road, into purpose-built sports facilities. At the time of its creation, it was the largest single-site sports facility in Europe. With underground drainage and laser-levelled pitches, Woollams offers some of the best playing surfaces around. I firmly believe we now have the finest home pitches in the league.
While this is an exciting step forward, it’s also a trial period for both OA Sport and ourselves. Reaching this point involved OA Sport conducting thoughtful consultation with multiple stakeholders, including the three other sports clubs that already operate at the site—Rugby, Cricket, and Tennis – along with St Albans School and their groundskeeping staff. While this season is a trial, I’m optimistic this is the beginning of a lasting and fruitful partnership. To help strengthen that relationship, I encourage everyone attending league matches at Woollams to go out of your way to make a positive impression—let’s ensure VPFC is recognised as an asset to the site and its community.
Another major milestone for the club is the debut of our U8 league team, VPFC U8 Victorians, led by Allister Manson. If you haven’t already ready the match report by our Treasurer, Mike Hillary, I’d encourage you to do so, it follows this article in our news feed. It’s brilliant to see a second team taking to the pitch in our first year of launching a league section. What makes this even more special is that it’s our first-ever mixed team.
Although we’ve always been a mixed club, the reality is that our female player numbers have historically been much lower than our male numbers. While many talented female players have come through VPFC, their transition to league football has until now meant individuals finding places at other clubs on their own. Before now, none of our VPFC groups had launched a girls’ or mixed team.
We’ve worked hard over the years to welcome more female players and coaches to VPFC, and the launch of the Victorians is a meaningful step towards a more balanced and inclusive future. I’m confident this team will inspire others and attract more girls to the club. Hopefully, this is the first of many mixed and girls’ teams we’ll see playing in VPFC colours.
Congratulations to everyone involved in these wonderful firsts. I look forward to following the progress of all our teams in the weeks and months ahead!
Gordon Baisley
Chairman
