14 August 2001

 

Welcome to the VILLAGE MANCHESTER FOOTBALL CLUB WEBSITE.

 

Village Manchester is the North of England's only gay football club, playing regular Sunday league matches and participating in gay football tournaments around the world. The club was formed in 1996 and has since then been a groundbreaking gay sporting institution. 

 

Manchester is at the HEART OF THE UK FOOTBALL SCENE with two major clubs in the city itself, Liverpool and Leeds just a short distance away and countless other clubs of great tradition in the surrounding area. It is also the UK's style and fun capital - a vibrant 24-hour, 21st-century city. The club has gone from strength to strength since its foundation, just missing out on promotion by one place last season. We are currently preparing our assault on international honours in this August's World Championships to be held in London. The club has never been stronger and confidence is high. 

 

LATEST NEWS 25/07/01 VMFC will take a squad of 15 players to Oxford this weekend in the final pre-season friendly against Slade Farm United - the side we beat 5-0 earlier in the close season... This will be the final opportunity before the London 2001 tournament for manager Tony Boys to weigh up his options.

 

Village unveil new kit... and physio...

 

LONDON 2001 WORLD CUP...VILLAGE MANCHESTER WILL TRAVEL TO LONDON WITH A SQUAD OF 17 PLAYERS:

 

1. John Bridges Goalkeeper, defender and teen-chaser Bridges, veteran of every previous world cup..

 

2. Graham Goggins The club's founding father has played all over the pitch in his time - often in the same game. Played in every previous world cup...

 

3. John Cassidy A big tournament player - ie. only plays in the big tournaments! Great left-sided defender/midfielder who'll be a great asset in London...

 

4. Dave Warde One for the future, the club's youngest member with the oldest head. Played in Amsterdam but missed the last two world cups whilst concentrating on his education. His solid displays in defence last season contributed greatly to our success.

 

5. Darren Horwell One of the VMFC's Yorkshire contingent - great defender with the ability to play the ball out of defence and get forward when needed. This will be his first world cup...

 

6. Tony Whittaker Tony the Terrier is one of the club's best servants -always there come rain or shine..Never quits running and inspires everyone around him with his example. Veteran of Amsterdam and Fort Lauderdale.

 

7. Ryan O'Connor Another new face for this tournament - burst onto the scene a couple of years back with goals galore and continued in the same vein last season after returning from a broken leg...Playing on the left but can switch to attack if needed...

 

8. Jez Ure Inspirational midfielder who's been to all the past tournaments - brilliant header of the ball who gets in the tackles, passes the ball around and chips in with the goals. When he's on form so is the team...

 

9. Stuart B New addition to the squad - so new I don't even know his surname...

 

10. Keith Waterworth Midfielder who appeared in Fort Lauderdale and Cologne looking forward to a successful competition...

 

11. Steve Clayton Skilful midfielder who joined the club last season and set about putting in the goals, setting em up and making his presence felt...

 

12. Dave Regan Dave's the team's oldest head (literally)...He's played all over the pitch in his time and recently started a fruitful strike partnership with Matt.. This'll be his fourth appearance in the finals...

 

13. Matt Heywood Young Matt will be playing in his first world cup and will be looking to fire in the goals in his usual manner. Expect him to be the tournament's top scorer!

 

14. Robert Harrison Veteran and club 'eminence grise' Harrison has been around the world with VMFC and the menopause won't take anything away from his wholehearted performances...

 

15. Simon Wheale The ankle snapper 'Catherine' Wheale has left many a defender battered and bruised over the past couple of seasons - his display against Amsterdam in last year's Cologne tournament epitomised Simon's superb ability to stick to his man...

 

16. Gary Poole The club's enforcer with a Tony Adams style - marshalls the defence around him with a never-say-die approach... A great player to have in the side...

 

17. Neill Brown One for the size queens, Neill shows there's more to him on the pitch than short shorts with his marauding runs down the wing...He'll be participating in his first tournament...

 

Also travelling with the squad will be physio / kitman / supporter Andy

 

30/06/01 PREPARATIONS CONTINUE APACE FOR THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN LONDON. TRAINING HAS BEEN STEPPED UP, FRIENDLIES ARRANGED AND 17 PLAYERS WILL TRAVEL TO BRITAIN'S SECOND CITY! FOLLOW MANCHESTER'S PROGRESS HERE...

 

03/06/01 VILLAGE TRAVEL TO OXFORD FOR THE FIRST PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY AND COME AWAY WITH A HANDSOME 5-0 VICTORY! 

Goals from Matt, Steve, Darren and Ryan seal a record-equalling victory against Slade Farm United. A further friendly is to be arranged before the World Cup in London.

 

25/05/01 DEFENDER JOHN BRIDGES AT THE CENTRE OF POLITICAL TABLOID CATFIGHT WITH SUPERMODEL! 

Village stalwart John Bridges this week found himself at the centre of a vicious war of words with glamour model and party animal Jordan - girlfriend of Man United star Dwight Yorke and his opponent in the forthcoming General Election. Read all about it here! 

  

 

19/05/01 ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY AT LE MERIDIEN V&A HOTEL.

 

Village Manchester gathered for a select dinner at the Meridien Hotel to present this season's player of the year awards. A suit and tie affair (let down only by manager Tony Boys who exercised the manager's prerogative by wearing a pair of old jeans) with three course dinner was followed by the three awards chosen by players and manager for performances in the past season. Here are the winners...

 

  PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2001 KEITH WATERWORTH - Midfielder with 10 appearances and 6 goals this season. Played in Fort Lauderdale and Cologne. 

 MANAGER'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2001 DAVE WARD - Captain with 10 appearances this season. Played in Amsterdam. 

 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR 2001 SIMON WHEALE - Defender with 6 appearances this season. Played in Fort Lauderdale and Cologne.

 

Midfielder Keith Waterworth carried off the Players' Player of the Year Award for the second time in three years. 'Young' Dave was rewarded for his fantastic performances at the heart of defence with the Manager's Award. Simon Wheale got into the winning habit before his Local Council elections with a Sportsman of the Year Award preceded by a recorded message by megastar and Village Manchester fan Jim Bowen. Too good a time was had by all. Keith's trophy disappeared in Essentials at 3.45 am only to be found 30 minutes later minus an arm. Efforts to retrieve the missing limb were in vain so he's now got a footballing version of the Venus de Milo. It later turned out that the same thing happened to Simon's trophy. Anyone with information on either missing arm should contact the website immediately - a reward will be given if traced.

 

 

See more in the 2000-2001 Vault