Tag: friendly

News

VPFC joins Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League 🎉

We’re delighted to confirm that VPFC has been accepted into the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League (HGFPL) — the county’s flagship girls’ competition with 6,000+ registered players and fixtures every Saturday morning.

Why this matters

  • Inclusion first – offering a dedicated girls’ league sits perfectly with our club ethos of equal access and a welcoming environment for every player.
  • Clear pathway – only a year ago we were a primary-age, skills-only club; now a girl can join us in Reception, grow through our Skills programme and move into all-girls league football right through secondary school, all without ever leaving VPFC.
  • Raising our standards – the HGFPL’s size, structure and community focus align with our goal of providing the best local football experience on and off the pitch.

First impressions

Immediately on been accepted, we were invited to the league’s AGM at short notice. John Sparrowhawk, prospective manager of our first girls’ league side, squeezed it into his diary and was blown away by the scale and energy in the room — over 100 club representatives and several new-club applications discussed in a friendly but lively session. A great sign that girls’ football in Hertfordshire is thriving.

Next steps

  • Finalise squad and coaching team for our inaugural HGFPL side (U10s).
  • Arrange league registration and kit ordering in the coming weeks.
  • Keep building girls’ numbers across all age groups – including our brand-new Reception 25/26 intake, where application are currently running 50:50 girls and boys.

“Joining the HGFPL underlines our commitment to inclusivity and growth. We can’t wait to see our first girls’ team run out in VPFC colours next season.”

Gordon Baisley, Chair

Stay tuned for further news and volunteer opportunities. In the meantime, explore the league here:
đź”— HGFPL website

HGFPL
News

VPFC Under 7s Shine at Herts Youth League Festival

As part of our new relationship with the Herts Youth League (HYL), we’ve been exploring new opportunities for our young players. One of the things that piqued our interest was the HYL Under 7 Festivals — a fantastic pathway towards league football for our Year 2 players. The festivals, organised every 3 weeks or so up to Christmas in Year 2, are designed to give young players a taste of competitive matches while still keeping the focus on fun and development. For many of our players, these events offer an exciting glimpse into the world of league football, giving them the chance to experience competitive football without having to commit to playing every weekend and training during the week.

While the match scores aren’t officially recorded at this level, it’s no secret that the children (and parents!) usually keep track. For VPFC, with us still finding our way in supporting those interested in transitioning to league football, it’s always good to know how our teams are shaping up against others in the area. And judging by the feedback from this festival – the report following from our Year 2 Group’s Manager, Neil Harrison – we have every reason to be proud!

⚽️ U7 Festival Report ⚽️

On Saturday, Year 2 participated in their first Herts Youth League Festival, hosted by Wheathampstead Wanderers. This was the first opportunity for a group of players who have been with our skills setup for the past two seasons to test themselves against some strong local teams.

The team played four matches—against St Albans City, Wheathampstead Wanderers, Bengeo, and Bury—with every player giving their best and enjoying themselves along the way. What’s even better? We won all four games!

Here’s a quick summary of the day’s action:

  • 1-0 vs St Albans City: A closely fought game, sealed with a brilliant link-up between Robbie and Calum for a fantastic goal.
  • 2-0 vs Wheathampstead Wanderers Pumas: Elliott and Robbie were on fire, both netting beautiful goals.
  • 9-0 vs Bengeo Caspians: A goalfest! Hat-tricks from Calum and Finlay, a brace from Jude, and a goal with an assist by Ted led the way.
  • 3-0 vs Bury Stripes: A strong defensive display from Jesse and excellent team play all around capped off the day with goals from Ralph, Ted, and Robbie.

The afternoon was topped off by an impressive feat—we didn’t concede a single goal! But most importantly, the team had loads of fun, which was the true highlight of the day.

News

Year 5 vs Year 6 Friendly Tournament

On Saturday 6th July, rather than having a normal training session, our Year 5 and Year 6 groups embarked on a friendly tournament at Normandy Road. Despite the pouring rain, all the coaches were so impressed by the commitment all of the children showed.  

The children displayed great talent, team work and support throughout the tournament. As such we had three absolutely thrilling games. The nail biting final game, between a Year 6 team and a Year 5 team, ended up in a draw, where they became joint winners. 

The children had a fantastic time and it was a great way to end this seasons training session.

Thanks to Year 5 and Year 6 coaches for organising a great morning for these children. 

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

VPFC U7 girls take on Harpenden Colts A team

Our U7 girls took part in their second friendly match against a Harpenden Colts girls’ team on Saturday the 11th November 2023 at the Harpenden Town Stadium in front of a sell out crowd of 5 dads, 5 mums and 1 dog.

The team of Jessica, Neus, Georgina, Ava, Claudia, Sophie and Alice were taking on the A team from Harpenden this time but acquitted themselves brilliantly and showed how much they’ve improved. An early goal for Harpenden was equalised by a full length of the pitch dribble and shot by Claudia. The whole team then ran back the full length of the pitch to celebrate their first competitive goal!!

The second half was just as entertaining with great teamwork and many chances to score at both ends. All our goalkeepers were brilliant and much improved but a special mention to Jessica who saved with every part of body including her face and carried on after a short break. Great resilience!! Harpenden Colts took the lead again in the second half but after many near misses Georgina got VPFC on the scoresheet for a second time after some real intensity in their play in the final quarter. A great comeback, team spirit and refusing to give up gave VPFC a well earned 2-2 draw.

Well done girls – a fantastic performance from all.

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