VEC Players-of-the-Year

What a season for VEC Captain Séamus Staunton who was voted VEC Player-of-the-Year 2021-2022 by his team-mates. (Pictured here with the Challenge Cup and the Richard Knight Cup). He was also joint top goalscorer for the season. Conor Callaghan was voted VEC 2nds Player-of-the-Year 2021-2022 by his team-mates.

Also with his award is the other joint top goalscorer, Colm McSharry.

With most events cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, a function was never held to announce the VEC Player-of-the-Year for 2019-2020, so Conall O’Shaughnessy was presented belatedly with his award by VEC FC Chairman David Spring. Congratulations to all … well deserved!

Challenge Cup Final on Saturday!

VEC FC will play Tallaght Utd. in the final of the Challenge Cup on Saturday 14th May at 2.00pm in Home Farm Whitehall.

Our last Challenge Cup final was in 2019, with a showdown against Drumcondra AFC in the Oscar Traynor Centre in Coolock.  It was a case of cometh the hour cometh the man, as Aidan Hyland struck no less than 4 killer blows in a mercurial performance, as we triumphed 6-3.  Joey Byrne and Séamus Staunton were also on the scoresheet.  A deserved man of the match award followed for Hyland as VEC carved the club name into the Challenge Cup trophy for the 8th time!

With manager Simon Roche (captain in our 2011 cup final win) now at the helm and 10 of our 2019 cup winning squad still involved, VEC FC hope to make it 9 Challenge Cup wins out of 12 .

Safer Return to Training & Play Protocols

The FAI is advising all affiliates that only essential personnel should attend all training sessions and match fixtures. Essential personnel include players, coaches, match officials and club officials and volunteers. Parents, guardians and spectators are asked to attend only if essential circumstances exist. Those attending a training session or match fixture must strictly observe 2 metres social distancing at all times and all players, coaches, match officials and volunteers should practise safe personal hygiene in light of the current COVID-19 situation and the ongoing impact of the Omicron variant on Irish society. Changing rooms and shower facilities will not be available until further notice.

Pre-Season Tournament

The UCFL’s Pre-Season Tournament kicks off for VEC on Saturday 12th June 2021 with a home game against Shelbourne AFC, while VEC 2nds first game will be away to Roc Celtic on ‘the Lawns’ in Ballyfermot on Wednesday 16th June 2021. Further details under Fixtures.

VEC FC will play 7 games up to 24th July and VEC FC 2nds will play 8 games up to 28th July.

‘Hope is Returning’ … and so is Football

‘Hope is returning’ said the Taoiseach today (29th April) as the Government announced  that “outdoor training for adults can recommence in pods of a maximum of 15 people with effect from 10th May”.

Also that from 7th June, “outdoor sports matches can recommence but with no spectators”. Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres can also reopen for individual training.

So, VEC training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7.00pm in the ETB (VEC) Sportsgrounds in Terenure – in pods of 15.
Training also on Saturday starting at 10.30am.

Jack McKnight Plays in World Cup Qualifiers

Having made his International debut for the Turks and Caicos Islands national football team in 2011, VEC FC player Jack McKnight played the full world cup qualifying match at left back against Nicaragua last night. Unfortunately, the team lost 7-0 in this CONCACAF first round Group E qualifier match. Well done Jack!

Update: Jack also played a full game in the next match on 30th March 2021 against Belize, where the Turks and Caicos Islands suffered a 5-0 defeat. Both matches were played in the Dominican Republic due to Covid-19 restrictions.

See article in the Sun Newspaper here.

[Click on team line-up and squad below to enlarge]

VEC FC September 2019

Back l to r: Juan Vassallo; Russell White; Shane Reddin; Richie Burke; Brian O’Keeffe; Gildas Oliver; Josh Caffrey; Jack McKnight; Paddy Prizeman.
Front: Conor O’Neill; Karl Reck; Mattie Wallace; Garry Curran; Paul Smith; Darragh Kelly; Simon Roche. [Missing/injured: Sean O’Shea; Adam Flynn].