7 Things That Made VMFC's 2024
Chair James Cole looks back at quite a year
It’s been an action packed year at VMFC, with trophies and tours in equal measure. And James Cole (Chair, Dear Leader, and Thankless Task Manager-In-Chief) takes a look back at his highlights of 2024.
Keeping Going!
2024 has arguably been the club’s biggest year yet, but before all the highs and trophy wins I’d like to look back on the day to day.
The club serves a wider purpose. Every year sees new LGBTQ+ players join, and seeing them find their community is always rewarding. Ultimately, being a welcoming place for all parts of our community is what our club’s all about. Over the summer break we rejigged our Manchester league teams, going from 4 league teams to 3 and opening up space in the non-FA league side of the club to accommodate more LGBTQ+ players - you may have noticed there are many new faces in the 5ths and 6ths in particular.
For VMFC to run 6 teams catering for all abilities is no mean feat. I’m very proud of all our members and particularly those who get stuck in to keep things going - it takes a lot of energy to run a club this size, and without our volunteers it simply wouldn’t be sustainable. Huge thanks from myself and all the players to those of you who helped make football happen in 2024. To be able to operate 6 teams is absolutely fantastic and testament to all of the efforts that the managers and rest of the committee sink into the club.
Sunday Sessions
Last January we started running our LGBTQ+ Sunday Sessions. These have helped us ensure that even with six full teams we can get LGBTQ+ players into the club as quickly as possible, with no more than a two week wait for the next session. Attendance has been an issue in the darker days before Christmas, especially now just about every team at VMFC has a league game or friendlies booked in most weekends, but these sessions remain open to existing players as well, and we hope to relaunch them this coming January in time for the new year fitness boom…
GFSN Cup
May saw the club lift the GFSN Cup for a record 5th time, which was quite the achievement given that rail strikes almost scuppered our first round game. The penalties win over London Freedom showed everyone that VMFC has grit and determination right the way down, and members from all the teams from the Firsts to the Fifths started in every round. Ultimately, winning the final at Prenton Park was a whole club achievement to be proud of. Huge thanks to Dewi and Danny for their hard work organising the squads (and the travel!) on our way to victory.
Linten Cup
June saw 70 players take part in the annual Linten Cup. The annual glut of nil nils due to the small goals meant goals were in short supply, but as usual it was a wonderful celebration of all things VMFC. Linten’s patronage of the club is something that we are immensely grateful for, and it continues to help us keep LGBTQ+ football in Manchester as open to as many as possible. In a tough financial climate we’ve been able to keep our subs at the same level for the past four years, and it’s primarily down to the generosity of Linten and our other sponsors.
Vienna Tour
As the season ended the football never seemed to stop. Vienna was the highest point in my ten years and counting at Village, as we took our biggest ever tour contingent to EuroGames 2024.
The 7s side exceeded expectations, winning five games in a row without conceding, which may be a record for any VMFC team. After a tough second day they ended up a point away from making the semi finals.
The 2nd XI encompassed ages 23 to 53, and made the most of their many strengths. They ground out results against teams that were arguably better sides on paper, and their only defeats came against two of the eventual semi-finalists.
The 1st XI went all the way to the final and won VMFC a European title for the first time since Dublin in 2012. There was a group stage wobble in a local derby against Mersey that we’d travelled over a thousand miles to play, but then Pete, Ant, and the squad dug deep and achieved something Sir Gareth Southgate can still only dream of. After much heartache in international finals, there were more than a few tears on the touchline from the older heads in the club. The celebrations were such that I stayed out past 9pm.
If you wanted to bottle up the experience of what members can get out of being a part of an inclusive football club then this is it. Travelling across the world with your mates to experience new cultures, and make regrettable decisions and memories for life in equal measure. Lyon this coming summer will be equally brilliant.
Pride and Charity Fundraising
The annual Pride Parade marching through our hometown is always a highlight. With new faces and old it always underscores our place in the community and the wider social purpose of the club. On a similar note, we have raised several thousand pounds for our charity partner, George House Trust, across a number of events. The Charity Quiz was a great success in January, and again in November, and the Charity Kit night raised nearly double what it did the year before at about £2,000.
2024/25
As we hit the midpoint of the season with the December break, it’s been a season of transition and progress in equal measure across the sides. Transition, certainly, for a 1st team which has been unusually afflicted by injuries, and players moving onto pastures new. Progress for Nick Stubbs and the 2nds, who continue to grow as arguably our most successful side this season.
Progress, too, for the 3rds, where Gazz is making a real difference - the results so far do not do justice to the work he and the players are putting in, and I’m sure there’s more to come in the second half of the season. Also with a busy second half of the season, the 4ths continue to enjoy their travels across the country in the GFSN League, with ten games still to go for Dewi’s team.
The 5ths under Jack have taken the exciting step of joining the brand new Lancashire Inclusion League, which we hope to see become a permanent fixture of our calendar. And the 6th team is doing a fantastic job of securing regular match football for the players, many of whom are new to 11-a-side or even to football itself. Karl and Jack are doing great work developing a bond within the squad.
It’s been a non-stop 2024. Bring on 2025!
