MATCH ARRANGEMENTS: Vinsky FC

FC United will travel to France to take on Vinsky FC in our final Fenix Trophy group match on Wednesday 10^th April with kick off at 16:00 CEST (3pm for those of you watching the live stream back home). The team are travelling out to France on the Tuesday afternoon and the earlier kick off on Wednesday was at our request to allow us to catch the late flight back to Manchester after the match.

FC United travelling squad:

We are delighted that 2 of our promising academy players are being rewarded for the fantastic season they have achieved so far with the chance to make their FC United first team debuts (many thanks to the Stockport Branch coach travellers for sponsoring their flight costs) as part of a strong 16 man travelling squad to France as we look to seal qualification for next month’s final 4 on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy.

George Murray Jones

Dimeji Willan

Aaron Bennett

Charlie Oliver

Charlie Munro

Charlie Ennis

Joe Ferguson

Kelan Swales

Dontai Gabidon

Jan Palinkas

Declan McLoughlin

Josh Askew

Elliot Wilkinson

Alfie Henstock

Lewis Gilboy

Jimmy Deadman

 

 

Vinsky FC v FC United of Manchester

Wednesday 10^th April at 16:00 CEST

Complexe Sportif Firmin Riffaud

Place Mendes France

78200 Magnanville

 

Admission:

Entry is via the entrance off Place Mendes France

Adults 10 Euros

Under 18s Free

The ground will open for spectators at 3pm (1 hour before ko). Although there is no segregation Vinsky have advised FC United supporters to congregate in the suggested section (from which you’ll be able to access the bar, merchandise and toilets). There are no seats or covered stands.

 

 

*Entrance via Place Mendy

*vente Maillots = shirt sales

Buvette = sale of soft drinks and cakes

*WC = toilets

*supporters anglais = suggested area for FC United fans

 

How to pay for admission and purchases in the ground:

Vinsky FC will have 1 card reader to accommodate spectators at this match which will be positioned at the gate until kick off and then in the bar area to facilitate card payments. Supporters are therefore advised it may be better to also bring some cash otherwise you are reliant on the one card reader.

 

Food & Drink:

There will be a bar serving soft and hot drinks and cakes/ crepes. Alcohol is prohibited in stadiums under French law (you may have seen reports that even an event of the size of the Olympic Games which they will host in Paris in July and August has a ban on alcohol in stadiums) so no alcohol will be allowed to be brought in the ground nor will there be any on sale.

Security:

Supporters should be mindful that as of 24^th March 2024 the French government has raised the terrorist threat level to ‘urgent’ which is the highest risk level  in all of France and as such extra security measures are required at all public events. Spectators and bags will be subject to a search on entry to the ground and there will be a police presence at the entrance during this process and in the ground. We have been advised of the following prohibited and allowed list of items

Banned:

-all alcohol

-any objects which could be used as missiles or weapons such as knives, scissors, cans, any glass objects, tools etc)

-any pyrotechnics/ smoke bombs

-large umbrellas with a metal tip

Authorised:

-plastic bottles of soft drinks no more than 50cl in size

-fruit juice cartons no more than 50cl in size

-sandwiches and fruit

 

Vinsky shirts available to buy in the ground:

 2022-23 season: 34,90 €

 2023-24 season: 54,90 €

 

 

Eid al- Fitr:

Wednesday 10^th April is scheduled to coincide with Eid al- Fitr, one of the key dates in the Muslim calendar where they celebrate the end of Ramadan. There is a relatively high Muslim population in the area who will be celebrating during our visit.

 

Travel:

From Paris it will take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 mins depending on your train to get to the ground. Take a train at Gare Saint-Lazare to Mantes La Jolie train station which takes between 30 and 40 minutes. On arrival walk 250m to the Mantes La Ville bus station and get the bus to Magnaville in 10 minutes. The bus will stop in the Place Pierre Mendes France where the entrance to the ground is located.

Anyone reading this who hasn’t yet booked a flight can still join us for £80 return flying Manchester to Paris Beauvais on Ryanair on Tuesday 9^th back Thursday 11^th April. There is also a cheap £30 flight from Manchester to Paris CDG on Easyjet on the Tuesday evening but flights back are more expensive on Easyjet (flight prices correct 2^nd April)

 

How can we qualify?

1 point is enough for FC United to mathematically join Lewes FC and become the 2^nd team qualified for the Final 4.

Should we lose in France we would finish on 9 points, a tally that Vinsky could also reach by winning their last game at home to Krakow Dragoons. If that were to happen the group would be decided on goal difference with FC United currently on +20 and Vinsky on -2.