A sun soaked Shawe View stadium hosted another magnificent Trafford FC Mini Football Festival – the eighth in a row, lockdowns aside.

Sixty-four teams took to the specially created arena of four pitches on our elite playing surface, across Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May 2023.

We were therefore proud to host around 640 players along with parents, grandparents and friends over the weekend.

In total, there were 124 games of football officiated by the six qualified referees on hand.

Tournament director Kevin Burke said: “We believe we hosted over 2,000 people in our little corner of paradise.

“From its inception, our goals have been clear; to make this the best tournament around, be the most enjoyable for all participants and, like everything we do as a club, do it to the best of our abilities.

“We want a tournament that coaches love bringing their teams to and one where players get to play the game they love with their mates on the best pitch about.

“That’s the vision we measure ourselves against and judging by the fantastic feedback we get year on year, we’re not far off.”

Some teams went home early but only after they’d had a great time and were given the opportunity to play plenty of football. Some games saw a nail-biting end and event went to penalties!

Our sponsors

Alongside our usual amazing support from volunteers and the community, this weekend would not been possible without our sponsors. “We know how to organise football – our sponsors help us create memorable events,” said Kevin Burke.
– Lintels Northwest sponsored our U7s tournament
– RGB Facades sponsored our U9s tournament
– B&M Waste sponsored both Sunday tournaments, the U8s and U10s

Saturday

Fletcher Moss were crowned our first champions of the weekend after a fantastic display in the final against Billinge, securing the Lintels Northwest U7 title.

Shawe View may have been given a taste of things to come as Trafford FC Youth won on home soil against AVRO – whose seniors will join us next season in the Pitching In Northern Premier League West. Trafford therefore took away the RGB Facades U9 title.

Sunday

Domination by our neighbours AFC Urmston Meadowside was the story of Sunday.

The U8s final was particularly fascinating as last year’s U7s champions, Meds Eagles were up against Meds Hawks in the final. After a hard-fought final, it finished 1 – 1 and therefore went to penalties. Following a heroic display by the Hawks’ keeper, they ended up the victors, taking the B&M Waste U9 title.

Meds Rams took the B&M Waste U10 title.

Thank you

Kevin Burke paid tribute to everyone who came: “We’d like to thank everyone for coming and entering in the right spirit. We look forward to welcoming those who enter for next year, some will of course want to retain their title!”

TRAFFORD FC is proud to support the FA, the Northern Premier League, and Shelter – the housing and homeless charity – in an initiative this festive season called “No Home Kit”.

The idea is to raise awareness of homelessness and poor housing…. by the home team wearing their away kit. So, for Monday’s (27th December) home game v. Ramsbottom United at Shawe View (KO 3pm) Trafford will take to the field in our yellow away kit.

We will have some volunteers on hand in the stadium doing a bucket collection to raise money for Shelter – If you are attending the game, please throw in any spare change you may have. If you can’t make it to Monday’s game, feel free to follow this link to the Just Giving page associated with the campaign. http://shltr.org.uk/j2o

To watch a promo video about the “No Home Kit” initiative on YouTube (starring the legendary Chris Kamara!) follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAxAVWcDn8&feature=youtu.be

Thank you x

TRAFFORD FC were represented last Saturday (22nd June) in Blackpool at the Northern Premier League’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

During the day, our Director and Football Secretary Graham Foxall attended the AGM to listen to the various rule tweaks and other things-you-need-to-know ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Later that afternoon “Foxy” was joined by fellow directors Lee Knights and Pete McGrath, together with our 2022 “Volunteer of the Year” Andy “Sniffer” McGrath. After a couple of steadiers in The Soul Suite on Blackpool Prom, these four thoroughly capable representatives of TFC enjoyed the meal and entertainment on offer at the Awards Ceremony.

All the usual top scorer, player-of-the-season, team-of-the-year gongs were dished out, and we are proud to report that Trafford FC came first in the “Technical Area Conduct Award”. This category is voted for by the NPL’s referees, and reflects the excellent sporting behaviour of our management team – Karl Marginson, Harry Winter, Steve Tobin, and all the players and others who have been in the dugouts this season.

The question was asked – does this mean we have the quietest bench in the league??!!!

Seriously, we at Trafford FC are very proud to be always recognised as being a club that does things right, and does things well. We applaud Margy and his staff for keeping the Trafford ethos very much at the forefront of everything they do.

Pictured is Graham “Mr. Trafford” Foxall with the award itself. See you all back at Shawe View soon!

MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to our TRAFFORD FC YOUTH Under 10 Tigers, and Under 13 Rebels, who this weekend have been playing in the Blackpool International Tournament……. AND BOTH WON THEIR RESPECTIVE AGE GROUPS!!
Both sets of players are pictured here with the Club Flag – for more pictures, including the trophy presentations by ex-Liverpool & England player Phil Thompson, go to https://www.facebook.com/TraffordFCYouth or follow us on Twitter @TraffordFCYouth
It’s been an amazing few weeks for the club – congratulations to all the players but especially the coaching staff and volunteers who give up their time to make this all happen!!
TRAFFORD FC YOUTH – MAKING THE FUTURE HAPPEN!

Trafford FC’s trip to Stafford Rangers in this afternoon’s NPL West Division fixture ended in a 1-1 draw. A scrappy, below-par game saw young substitute Cian Donohue grab a late equaliser for Karl Marginson’s team. A point on the road against one of non-league’s bigger, most famous clubs, is a great result for Trafford, but you can read all about it in Dave Law’s match report later this evening…….

TRAFFORD continue their preparations for the 2023-24 season this afternoon (Saturday 22nd July) with the visit of Ashton United for a pre-season friendly.

Kick off is 3pm, and all our facilities are open – hot & cold food, licensed bar & can bar. Admission for adults is just £5 with £3 concessions and just £1 for under-16’s!

Come and enjoy the family atmosphere at Shawe View; And after 3 wins and a draw in 4 pre-season warm ups so far, come and enjoy the exciting football Danny Caldecott’s team is serving up ahead of the new season. See you there!!! (Shawe View, Pennybridge Lane, between Chassen Park and The Bird in Hand).

Trafford tonight (Thursday 1st Feb) edged their way past Glossop North End to reach the Manchester FA Premier Cup semi-final via a 5-4 penalty shootout success.

0-1 behind at half time, Ally Brown’s deflected shot just after the hour made the score 1-1 on 90 minutes; With the shootout evenly poised at 4-4 as it went into sudden death, Trafford ‘keeper Bruno da Silva saved Bevan Burey’s spot kick, then youngster Jack Donohue showed nerves of steel to slot home the winning penalty!

Dave Law’s full match report will be up here soon…..

The semi-final will be played away at Ashton United next Tuesday evening (6th February).

SO, the new Northern Premier League season kicked off last Saturday (19th September) with a new sponsor: “Pitching In”.

Pitching In is a new Grassroots Sports Investment Programme that has been launched by GVC, the multi-national sports-betting and gaming group which owns Ladbrokes and Coral. The sponsorship deal extends to the Isthmian and Southern Leagues, as well as the NPL. The partnership therefore covers all three leagues that make up Steps 3 & 4 of the National Leagues System, who market themselves collectively as the Trident Leagues.

England footballing legend Stuart Pearce, who played for Wealdstone FC for five years at the start of his long and illustrious career, has been appointed as the official Pitching In ambassador. “Psycho” says:

“I am delighted to be taking up the role of ambassador for Pitching In, as I’m passionate about the importance of investing in grassroots sports and in developing young talent. I started out playing for Wealdstone FC before joining Coventry City so I understand how important funding is to the non-league game. Grassroots football is facing huge challenges at the moment and many clubs are struggling to stay afloat. GVC’s Pitching In investment will help make a big difference to hundreds of clubs and thousands of players across the country.”

Pitching In has been set up with the objective of supporting, protecting and encouraging grassroots sports in the UK through a range of initiatives.

In addition to financial support, a key focus of the partnership will be to facilitate and encourage members of the community to become volunteers, and do some pitching in of their own. A Pitching In volunteering scheme will be established to link GVC’s Ladbrokes and Coral shop colleagues with their local clubs.

In the weeks ahead Pitching In and the Trident Leagues will be announcing further initiatives to provide financial support and opportunities for all the 226 clubs (rising to 240 in 2021).

For more information on Pitching In please visit www.gvc-plc.com/pitchingin

TRAFFORD FC are at home again today (Saturday 9th September). Following last week’s magnificent 1,000+ attendance for the Pitching-In Northern Premier League match versus Bootle, this week’s entertainment is provided via an Isuzu FA Trophy tie at Shawe View against Stalybridge Celtic.

Join us as Danny Caldecott’s team begin the journey which could lead to an appearance at Wembley in the final next May……. Kick off is 3pm; Gates open at 1pm; Shawe View is near Chassen Road, postcode M41 5DL; Admission is £10 adults, £6 concessions, £2 for kids (U16) or buy tickets from Shocal (link below).

Licensed bar, can bar, hot & cold food & drinks; Cheap prices (e.g. pint of Stella £4!) The weather is looking good, we have plenty of seats and standing areas, and there are no rules against standing with a drink whilst watching the game! Be part of it – Trafford in The Trophy!

Shocal Ticket link: https://www.shocal.org/business/event_shop?sid=34

The wheels definitely came off for Trafford this afternoon, with a 0-6 defeat away at Nantwich Town. Trafford were behind after just 4 minutes, 0-3 at half time, and had Jerome Wright sent off in the second half.
Two of Nantwich’s half-dozen goals were penalties, and incredibly Trafford ‘keeper Ollie Culkin saved a third penalty kick! The whole afternoon was a serious blip for Margy’s Men, but we’ll leave it to Dave Law to describe the game in detail via his match report later on this evening……..