21 August 2015

 

The club came together to celebrate the 2014/15 season with a look back at both teams' seasons, a photo montage video of our summer tours to Hamburg and Stockholm, close to the knuckle 'Have I Got News For You' humour, an video overview of the year generally... and of course the awards. 

 

Second team manager Rob McPherson gave an overview of last year's difficult year in the Manchester City Central League, with 12 teams of wildly differing abilities. Looking forward, the second team is no longer to play Sunday league football but has instead joined the GFSN League. VMFC has enjoyed success in the GFSN Cup for the last couple of years and we hope this is replicated in the League. 

 

He then made his second team manager's player of the year award. The award was given Alex West. Alex only joined VMFC in the autumn but his huge Lancashire personality and enthusiasm have seen him become an integral member not only of the second team, but a committee member, tour-goer and occasional player for the first team. 

 

Second team captain Steven Holmes took to the stage to make the award of second team players' player, as voted by the players present. The award was won for the second time by Paul Golds. Paul, who has played for both teams on a regular basis for years, found himself a second team regular in 2014/15. In addition to his skill with the ball, he showed great loyalty to the club as one of the best attenders at both training and games, and also came to Europe on both our trips. 

 

New first team manager Steve Clayton, in the absence of last year's first team manager Sam Connell, reflected on a difficult season that started well but almost saw the team relegated to the lower division of the Manchester Accountants Football League. However, he was keen to point out that with a new coaching team the future looks bright for the first team in the Accountants League. It was then up to Steve to award Sam's choice of first team manager's player of the year, and the highly popular choice was Peter Bolgi Bolgar. The goal machine Slovakian has proved a huge asset to Village Manchester FC and Sam was keen to reward not only his obvious footballing skills, but also his commitment to playing and training. 

 

Following a secret vote, last year's first team captain Jay McNaught was called upon to make the announcement of first team players' player. Despite missing some of the season due to injury, due to his huge American enthusiasm and commitment to our 'soccer club', the players voted to award Jeremy Baker. 

 

The Clubman (contributor) of the year, as voted for by both teams, was awarded to Treasurer and Visual Communications Officer Steve Joyce. Steve started out as club photographer and now also looks after the finances, website, enews and social media. 

 

There was then a special moment as a rare Lifetime Achievement award was given out, by club chairman James Toland. The award, to Rob Davies, was given following his recent retirement from the committee after nine years as Treasurer. Rob is unknown to many of the current club members as he lives a quiet life away from football, socials and Facebook, but has for years been a hugely important, hard working committee member. This was following his own stint as a player. 

 

Congratulations to the winners, and here's to 2015/16!