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!”