31 August 2016

The VMFC second team go into the 2016-17 season after earning a hard fought promotion in the GFSN League, but the opening fixture in the top flight sees them meet some familiar foes. They start their campaign in September with a trip across the Pennines to play Yorkshire Terriers, last season's second division winners, before a visit to Edinburgh in November to face the HotScots in a match even more likely to be rainy than the average Village home game. The Scottish theme then continues in February when Glasgow's Saltire Thistle travel to Manchester, before the league season comes to an end across March and April with an away match against London Romans followed by a home game against last season's champions, Birmingham Blaze.

All those fixtures will offer opportunities to reconnect with friends from other teams, but the league is by no means the whole story for VMFC2 this season. The GFSN Cup returns as usual, and Village have their first fixture in October away to the recently relegated Leicester Wildecats. After a last 16 exit in this competition a year ago Village want to go further this time round, so there's no doubt they'll be taking a strong squad to Leicester. They will also line up in the Manchester County FA Sunday County Cup at the start of the season, and are still in talks over the Northern Cup, so watch this space for further information coming soon.

Finally, Village have also joined the M62 Unite League with some of their northern rivals. The GFSN league has a limited number of fixtures so there's plenty of scope to squeeze in a few more matches against the likes of Mersey and Yorkshire – and with the possibility of northern bragging rights on offer, Village are certain to aim for the top. 

It's clearly going to be a busy year for VMFC2, and manager Rob McPherson told us: “It's been great to see so many people at training right through the summer. We're involved in a lot of different things this season so knowing the players are up for it means I can take a strong team into every game. 

“Last season the league was really exciting for us and I'm confident we can take that momentum into the top flight – and hopefully all the way to a cup final or two as well.”  

With the manager so optimistic we are hoping for great things from the VMFC seconds this season!

 

Words: James Cole