Tag: kids

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

A Fortnight of Firsts: New Ground, New League Team, First Mixed Team

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!

  • Our U10 Team

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.

  • Photos from our U8’s match

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

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

VPFC Girls Teams Compete in the Berkhamsted Tournament

The VPFC girls’ football program has seen significant growth, leading to an exciting milestone: two teams (Year 2 and Year 5) competed in their first competitive matches at the Berkhamsted Tournament.

Pictured above the Y2 and Y5 teams and coaches (left) – just look at that enthusiasm from Alice (centre in goalie gloves)! The Y2 girls receiving their medals (right).

U10 Girls Team: A Promising Debut

The VPFC U10 girls’ team displayed incredible enthusiasm and determination in their debut tournament.

  • First Game: The girls started strong with a 0-0 draw. Despite being the better team, they couldn’t break through the opposition’s defence. Alicia played a pivotal role in midfield, creating several great through balls for Eliza, who came close to scoring.
  • Second Game: Another solid 0-0 draw. Bea had her best performance in midfield, while Mabel was a key player all over the pitch.
  • Third Game: The team celebrated their first win! Lottie scored a goal with a well-timed run from defence, and strong performances from ValĂ© and Erin rounded out the line-up.
  • Final Game: Facing the toughest team in the group, the girls unfortunately lost 4-0.

Overall, the U10 girls delivered a commendable performance, finishing 3rd out of 5 in their league and narrowly missing the playoffs by goal difference. A fantastic effort for their first taste of competitive football.

U7 Girls Team: Battling Against Older Competition

The VPFC U7 girls entered an U8 competition, facing teams mostly composed of older players with more league experience.

  • First Game: Neus made some great saves in goal, while Julie, Alice, and Amelie provided solid defence. Sophie, Claudia, and Emmeline were a constant attacking threat. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, earning the girls their first point in competitive play.
  • Second Game: Fresh legs from Eve and Florence in midfield, alongside excellent defending from Julie and Neus (now playing outfield), led to a hard-fought match. Despite their efforts, the girls lost 1-0 to a late goal.
  • Games 3 and 4: The coach experimented with new formations and positions, resulting in close defeats but valuable learning experiences for the team.
  • Final Two Games: Against the top two teams, some of whom were up to two years older, the girls showed great resilience. Though they didn’t end on a high note, their effort against stronger, more experienced opposition was commendable.

Despite the challenges, the U7 girls demonstrated significant potential and should be proud of their performance against older teams. This experience will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for future success.

Is this the first glimpse of some future Lionesses? Keep watching this space for more exciting updates!

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’s Triumphant Return: St Albans City Youth Annual Football Tournament 2024

This year’s St Albans City Youth Annual Football Tournament was an event filled with excitement and determination for our club. After last year’s challenging experience, where we lost every game playing in an age group a year above, our young players returned this year with a renewed spirit and determination to improve. 

Format and Performance

We entered two under-7 teams into the tournament, the Lions and the Tigers,  who were both eager to make it out of the group stages. Each team played five group games, and both successfully qualified for the semi-finals, showcasing remarkable improvement and teamwork along the way. 

Semi-Final Thrills

In a thrilling semi-final, the Lions demonstrated immense courage, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 after extra time. Their resilience and fighting spirit were genuinely inspiring. Meanwhile, the Tigers overcame a strong team, winning 4-1 to set up a VPFC derby in the final!

The final itself was a cagey affair, but the Tigers won to bring home our first piece of silverware, marking a significant achievement for our club.

Highlights of the Day

– Jack Attack: Scored a stunning hat trick, leading the line with his outstanding performance

– Charlie: Scored a brace in the semi-final, one with each foot. 

– Isa and Ethan: Made crucial saves in goal, showcasing their sharp reflexes and composure under pressure.

– Idris: Delivered a rocket free kick in the semi-final, a moment reminiscent of David Beckham’s legendary strikes.

– Zander and Emilio Delap: Displayed brave defending, holding the line with their tenacity and resilience.

– Oscar and Percy: Showed silky skills, dazzling the opponents and spectators alike with their dribbling and footwork.

– George and Elijah: Scored important goals that contributed significantly to the team’s success.

– Ibrahim: Provided great assists, setting up his teammates with precision and vision.

Moreover, all 12 players gave 100% commitment and worked tirelessly as a team, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Special Thanks

A special mention goes to the VPFC families for their fantastic support and encouragement. The positive energy and cheering from the sidelines truly spurred all the boys on, making a significant difference in their performance.

The St Albans City Youth Annual Football Tournament 2024 was a memorable event for our club. The progress made by our young players, the excitement of the matches, and the joy of bringing home silverware all contributed to an unforgettable experience. We are incredibly proud of our teams and look forward to many more successes in the future. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible!