Village sweep to glory with a record third trophy victory

VILLAGE Manchester FC, Manchester’s gay and inclusive men’s football club, have enjoyed playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL for a number of years and last season added a second team to play in the league.

They have now won the national Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) Cup for a record third time, beating London rivals Millwall Romans.

As Romans had also previously won the GFSN Cup twice, the race was on to become the first club to win three times. In a match just as tense as England’s the next day, the full-time score was 3-3 and it took a nail-biting penalty shootout to determine the winner, with the result finishing 3-1 to Manchester.

The cup final was due to happen in May 2020 but was delayed by over a year due to Covid, with the competition having got underway in August 2019. For the same reason, the 2021 competition was cancelled. The match was held in Birmingham, half way between the two clubs.

GFSN chair Mike Kalogerou, who plays for the Leicester Wildecats inclusive team beaten by Village Manchester in the first round, said: “The GFSN has provided a safe space for LGBTQ+ people to support, campaign and play football in a safe and encouraging arena for over 30 years. The final was an example of two honest teams battling out to be this year’s cup winners. It was an enthralling match, which Manchester edged after a penalty shootout.

“We would like to thank both teams for playing the game in a fantastic spirit and to Millwall Romans, who showed fantastic dignity in defeat.”

Village Manchester FC was formed 25 years ago to give gay and bi men a safe, welcoming space to play and support football. Over the years, the club has grown and developed, and now has five teams, a number of trans players in addition to players of every sexuality and race, and an increasing number of straight players attracted by the club’s ethos of inclusivity.

VMFC chair James Cole said: “I am absolutely delighted that in our 25th anniversary year, and after much delay, Village Manchester Football Club is once again the national GFSN Cup champions.

FULL information on joining Village Manchester FC can be found at www.vmfc. co.uk/new.