1 July 2007

 

Village Manchester FC win the 2007 London Pride 5 a side tournament.

 

by Jason McAuley

 

The lads from Village Manchester FC have done it again. In addition to their recent League winners trophy, the club has just returned from London with more silverware after competing in the inaugural 2007 London Pride 5 a side tournament which was organised by London Falcon's FC and sponsored by car giant Ford motors.

 

The competition attracted over 20 other gay football clubs from across the UK, all intent on winning the top prize which included a cash prize of £1000. The lads didn't let us down!...they went through the tough group stages without losing a game, then into the knockout stages which included a penalty shoot out win in the semi finals before capping a perfect weekend with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Stonewall FC in the Final.

 

VMFC's Jason McAuley said "we travelled down from Manchester without any real expectations...except having a great weekend in London of course!, on the day every player was outstanding but special praise has to be given to our top scorer Craig Leech who won the competition's 'golden boot award' with 9 goals and semi final hero, goalkeeper Gavin Crosby who saved the crucial penalty", he added "to win the competition was great news for the club and the £1000 prize money will go a long way to helping us raise much needed funds to help us travel to the Gay World Cup in Argentina this coming September"

 

The club then had the honour of heading up the London Pride Parade on Saturday 30 June before being presented with the trophy on the main stage in Trafalgar Square.