Tag: boys

News

Five VPFC League Teams Kick Off In One Weekend

Last year we launched our league section with a single team. This weekend we took a big step forward: five VPFC league teams all kicked off their seasons — a brilliant milestone with plenty of excitement around the club.

VPFC U11 Victoria

The members of this squad met and decided to form a team at VPFC, but had to move to St Albans Rangers initially as we didn’t have a league section. Now they’ve come home. In their first 9-a-side outing in VPFC colours, the team showed composure in possession, confidence playing back to the keeper under pressure, energetic pressing, and lively wing play. Player of the Match: Ethan for a brave performance in goal.

VPFC U11 Romans

A hugely entertaining match that had parents gripped to the end. With a depleted squad and no substitutes, every player put in a full shift. The group rallied with energy, determination, and togetherness throughout.

VPFC U10 Victoria

A proud first outing for many who are new to competitive football. The team adapted quickly to the faster pace and greater physicality, stuck to their roles well, and showed great attitude throughout. There was even an early “goal of the season” contender — a superb long-range free-kick equaliser that had everyone on their feet.

VPFC U9 Victorians

A composed first half set the platform for confident attacking after the break. Passing patterns were neat, the tracking back and defending were strong, and Luke took Player of the Match for tireless box-to-box work and smart distribution.

VPFC U9 Saints

Our first girls’ team made their competitive debut and embraced the occasion. Two full debutants got valuable minutes as coaches rotated formations to involve everyone. Team spirit was excellent and smiles all round at full time. Alice netted the Saints’ first league goal, and Carmen was awarded Player of the Match by the opposition on her debut.

Thank You

Warm thanks to Cherry Scaffolding, Specsavers St Albans, and Persado for supporting our teams this season and helping to keep costs down for families. We’re also grateful to Royal Mail for a grant towards training tops for two squads. Your support is appreciated as we continue to grow community football in St Albans — always with the emphasis on participation, development, and fun.

News

VPFC U10s Crown Debut Season with Cup Triumph

The curtain came down on a memorable first campaign for our U10s last weekend as they lifted the Sycamore League Cup at Hertfordshire FA’s County Ground in Letchworth.

VPFC U10s lift the Sycamore League Cup at the Herts FA County Ground

Cup finals day is always special: individual changing rooms, a tunnel walk-out and a sizeable, good-natured crowd gave the occasion a professional feel. The opponents were the well-drilled Watton Sharks, and the match lived up to the billing.

VPFC fell behind early, but steady pressure and some neat passing saw the boys turn the tide and enter the latter stages in the lead. With just a couple of minutes to play the Sharks levelled, hinting at the drama of penalties. Instead, a thumping finish from VPFC in the dying seconds settled it, sparking blue-and-yellow celebrations on and off the pitch.

Every single player played out of their skins, capping a debut season in which the team has grown in confidence week by week. Huge congratulations to the squad, coaches and travelling supporters — silverware in year one is quite a statement.

Roll on next season!

News

Celebrations to end our 23/24 season

Our 23/24 season drew to a close last weekend and what another great season we’ve had!  

Each year group held a prize giving where we acknowledged how our players have progressed throughout the year and awarded medals and trophies for their efforts. We also took time to thank all of our volunteer head coaches and coaches for running brilliant sessions week in week out for the children. 

We then gathered as a whole club to celebrate some amazing achievements from this season. We have seen record numbers of players at VPFC this year, and our club has only been able to grow because of the fantastic support from our volunteers. 

We continuously want to grow the number of girls at our club and we’re delighted that we have a record number of girls at VPFC this season as well. Because of this we have been able to enter our first girls team in tournaments during this season.  

Every year, a number of league teams are formed at the end of the season, seeing groups of children leave VPFC with coaches to form a team and play in a local league. This year we see 6 teams form and we wish them all the best playing in their new teams.  

We now break for the summer and look forward to another fantastic season when we start back on 7th September. 

News

Year 3 at Welwyn Garden City Tournament

On 16th June our Year 3 group took 3 teams of 7 to play at the Welwyn Garden City Youth FC’s 5-a-side tournament.

The children soaked up the experience of playing in a tournament, and have to be commended for giving their absolute best whilst having lots of fun. They fully embraced our club ethos of having fun, supporting and encouraging each other and working as a team, winning and losing together.

Whilst the results weren’t all in our favour, all of the children put their hearts and souls into the games and they had a fantastic day out. 

We had great support from our parents, who cheered the children on throughout and gave some brilliant feedback afterwards on how well organised and run the tournament was, which included:

“A great experience for them and wonderful to see them giving their best whilst having fun”

“Thank you coaches for all your work putting together…a really lovely experience for them all”

“Thank you and well done to all involved. Great afternoon”

Well done to all of Year 3 for a brilliant tournament! 

News

VPFC Kids Shine as Guard of Honour at St Albans FC Game Against Truro City FC

The Event

March 16, 2024, marked a special day for Victoria Playing Fields Football Club’s (VPFC) young players. Organized by Chris Hawkins, the Y2 group had the honor of being the guard of honour at a St Albans FC match against Truro City FC. Despite St Albans FC‘s narrow 2-1 defeat, the event was a hit, focusing on unity, joy, and community support.

[ Match Report ]

Highlights of the Day

The day was packed with memorable activities. Our kids took pride in forming the guard of honour and running around the pitch at half-time. These moments went beyond football, showcasing a sense of belonging and collective excitement.

While the kids enjoyed meeting Sammy the Saint, the day was more about coming together as a club, supporting our local team, and having a fantastic time. It was these experiences, full of laughter and shared joy, that made the day truly special for everyone at VPFC.

A Community Effort

This experience offered the VPFC kids a glimpse into the larger football community, allowing them to see their role models up close and dream big. With over 40 children participating in their VPFC kits, the day underscored the club’s spirit and communal bond.

Gratitude

A heartfelt thanks to Chris Hawkins for orchestrating this memorable day. Events like these reinforce our love for football and highlight the importance of our place within the VPFC family.

News

A Memorable Mascot Experience for VPFC Kids at St Albans FC’s Match against Dover Athletic

On Saturday, 25th March, Victoria Playing Fields Football Club (VPFC) had a fantastic opportunity to participate in a thrilling event with our local semi-professional team, St Albans FC, also known as the “Saints”. The young football enthusiasts from VPFC were invited to be mascots and form part of the guard of honour for the Saints in their match against Dover Athletic at Clarence Park Stadium.

Despite some concerns about the weather, the day remained relatively dry with even a few glimpses of sunshine. The match drew a great turnout, with over 2000 people in attendance which not only contributed to the great atmosphere but also a record in exceeding 2000 attendee’s twice this season (the first in their history). This attendance included more than 35 girls and boys from VPFC, proudly wearing their full club kit. The girls from our club received a special mention from the commentator, who dubbed them “Lionesses”.

This amazing opportunity was organized by Chris Hawkins (Head Coach, Y1) and the rest of the Y1 coaching team. Both parents and children had a fantastic time at the game, creating memories that will last a lifetime. My own son was eagerly counting down the days leading up to the game, and I know many other kids shared his excitement. Many children, including my own, described the day as “the best day ever”. Their excitement at being mascots was only increased by the St Albans City FC team holding out for a 1-0 win at home.

The remarkable turnout of VPFC members at the game highlights the sense of community that our club fosters. It’s important to remember that our club is run by volunteers, who are committed to creating a positive and engaging experience for all the children involved, why not come volunteer with us?

St Albans City v Dover Athletic – 25th March 2023