Valenciennes

[ChristopheVAFC]

Here is the latest news from Valenciennes:

** FRIENDLY MATCHES **

After playing the following friendlies:
- Dunkerque 0-2 VAFC
- VAFC 3-0 FCV Dender

Valenciennes played a third friendly match against the Belgian side RFC Liège.

VA won this third match 4-2.
The match was played in three 30-minute periods.

Scorers:
- Salif LEBOUATH (6')
- Luka BOITEAU (18')
- Célestin NYEMB (33')
- Rayane EKRA (55')

- Goal for Liège (16')
- Goal for Liège (56')

A fourth friendly match is currently underway—again against a Belgian team—at Kortrijk's home ground.

I will share the score here a bit later.

** SUMMER TRANSFERS **

The latest rumors point to a loan deal from Southampton for midfielder Issa TOUNKARA.

And as of this morning, there is a rumor that Valenciennes is in talks with Christopher ROCCHIA, a 28-year-old left-back.

That’s the news for today, folks.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Update on this morning's friendly match against Kortrijk.

It ended in a 1–1 draw.

Kortrijk opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and Valenciennes equalized in the 88th minute through Vincent Marcel.

As the match was played behind closed doors and not broadcast, I have no further details.

Schedule for the coming week:

- Sunday, July 19 (tomorrow): Departure for England and Southampton's Staplewood Campus for a five-day training camp running until July 23.

- Wednesday, July 22: Friendly match against Eastleigh FC at Silverlake Stadium.

- Saturday, July 25: Friendly match against the UNFP (National Union of Professional Footballers) in Valenciennes.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well.

News from Valenciennes:

** TRAINING CAMP IN SOUTHAMPTON **

Currently at their training camp in Southampton, the players have been alternating between training sessions and team-building activities—including go-karting.

Today, they visited St Mary's Stadium and paid their respects at the Ted statue before the friendly match against Eastleigh at Silverlake Stadium. Kick-off is at 8:45 PM local time.

** SIGNINGS **

A 10th new player arrived yesterday: Christopher Rocchia.

👤 Who is Christopher Rocchia?

Position: Left-back / Left wing-back (1.72m)

Career path: A product of the Olympique de Marseille academy, he made his professional debut in Ligue 1 with the club.

He subsequently had several spells—initially on loan and later via permanent transfers—at Sochaux (L2), Dijon (L2), and more recently at Aubagne and FC Villefranche Beaujolais in the National league.

Playing style: He is a full-back with explosive movement, known for his pace, high work rate along the flank, and attacking contribution.

🎯 Verdict

On paper, this is an excellent market opportunity. Rocchia possesses the athletic and technical qualities to quickly become an undisputed starter and a dynamic force on the left flank. If the medical and coaching staff can help him find consistency and confidence, he has all the makings of a standout performer this season.

That’s all for the news.

Have a great evening, everyone.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Starting XI Eastleigh vs Valenciennes FC

- Derrick Abu start the game tonight

Source https://x.com/DanJHargraves/status/2079993102857629983/photo/1

[ChristopheVAFC]

30' goal for Valenciennes !

MABROUCK ROUAI !

Score: 0-1

[ChristopheVAFC]

Half Time: 0-1 for VA 😎

[ChristopheVAFC]

77' Break for Valenciennes 🔥

Vincent MARCEL.

Score: 0-2 🙂

[ChristopheVAFC]

Full Time: 0-3 for VA.

Scorer 3 goal:

Vincent MARCEL (89')

Allez VA ! ❤️🤍

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Full Time: 0-3 for VA.

Scorer 3 goal:

Vincent MARCEL (89')

Allez VA ! ❤️🤍

Well done VA!

[spyinthesky]

Better result than achieved by the Saints last Saturday!!

[John Boy Saint]

55 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

Better result than achieved by the Saints last Saturday!!

4 games into pre season compared to the first for us against a team with 3(?) pre season games under their belt 

[Neil]

Looks like VA enjoyed their visit to Hampshire! 

And perhaps building up a head of steam for the new season, a raft of signings, pre-season wins, goals, etc.

Wonder what level their pre-season opponents were at, other than Eastleigh who we know of course.

Christophe - do you have any betting odds for Ligue 3 for this coming season?

[ChristopheVAFC]

4 hours ago, Neil said:

Looks like VA enjoyed their visit to Hampshire! 

And perhaps building up a head of steam for the new season, a raft of signings, pre-season wins, goals, etc.

Wonder what level their pre-season opponents were at, other than Eastleigh who we know of course.

Christophe - do you have any betting odds for Ligue 3 for this coming season?

It's always a pleasure to visit! 😎

I have no doubt that our players benefited from great working conditions over these five days!

I wanted to come along, but budget constraints made it impossible. 😌

So far, the friendlies are going well—no losses, good scores, and the players are starting to gel—though, of course, friendlies don't earn you any league points, haha. 😅

Regarding the level of our pre-season opponents:

** FRIENDLIES PLAYED **

- US Dunkerque (Ligue 2 - France) -> 2-0 Win
- FCV Dender (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 3-0 Win
- RFC Liège (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 4-2 Win
- KV Kortrijk (Division 1 - Belgium) -> 1-1 Draw
- Eastleigh FC (Division 5 - England) -> 3-0 Win

** UPCOMING FRIENDLIES **

- 25/07 vs UNFP (unattached players/free agents)
- 31/07 vs US Boulogne CO (Ligue 2 - France)

** LIGUE 3 LEAGUE FIXTURES **

- 07/08 vs Stade Malherbe Caen (in Normandy)
- 14/08 vs FC Bourg-en-Bresse (Stade du Hainaut)
- 20/08 vs Paris 13 Atletico (in Paris)
- 29/08 vs US Concarneau (in Brittany)

Regarding odds and sports betting: under the old name—"Championnat National"—it wasn't possible to bet on matches in France. However, with the new name (Ligue 3) and the new status (shifting from amateur to professional),

I think it will be possible to bet on Valenciennes matches this season, though nothing is certain just yet. In any case, here in Valenciennes, there is no getting carried away; it is only the very beginning of the season, and while the initial results are positive, we are remaining level-headed.

[leesaint88]

Will keep an eye on results. I lived in France for a period and enjoyed a fair bit of French football, I'm surprised to see the likes of Amiens & Bastia dropping down in to National. 

I was just reading about the switch to professionalism at that level, it seems the financial rules laid down by the football association are pretty tight. Wage to revenue being only 60% from 2027 and then 40% in 2029? Surely that will result in teams operating on a semi professional level rather than fully pro. 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well.

News from Valenciennes:

** HEAD COACH **

-> Pierre Blois Appointed VAFC Head Coach (official) Valenciennes FC

VAFC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Pierre Blois as head coach of the first team for the 2026-2027 season.

To meet the regulatory requirements associated with the role, Pierre Blois will soon begin a coaching course in Scotland—a program recognized and approved by the French Football Federation. This decision will be formally ratified by the Federation’s commission for football coaches and instructors, which is scheduled to meet at the end of August.

Since taking charge of the team last February, Pierre Blois and his staff have successfully instilled new momentum. This appointment recognizes the hard work, commitment, and professionalism demonstrated on a daily basis over the past several months, as well as the club's confidence in the continuity of the ongoing project.

Supporting him in this new role, Pierre Blois will be assisted by Rudy Mater—an iconic former club player and recent academy coach—and Samuel Goethals, who joins VAFC after four seasons with US Pays de Cassel. Both are joining the technical staff as assistant coaches.

The entire club extends its sincere congratulations to Pierre Blois on this appointment and wishes him and his staff every success in this new endeavor.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Pierre Blois, the new Tonda Eckert 😎

[FredVaFC59100]

1 hour ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Pierre Blois, the new Tonda Eckert 😎

Great, you know when P. Blois is heading next when/if Tonda gets the boot. Happy ? Pappy ? 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well. After a few days of being unavailable, here is some news from Valenciennes:

** HEAD COACH **

As previously announced, Pierre Blois will indeed be the Valenciennes coach this season. Sport Republic is placing a lot of faith in Pierre; he has been with the club for several years and coached various youth academy teams before stepping up to the professional squad.

** HOME AND AWAY KITS **

With a slight delay, the club has officially unveiled two of the three kits: the home kit on July 30 and the away kit on August 5. Photos of the kits are below:

** FRIENDLY MATCHES **

The friendly matches have now concluded, with a total of 8 games played:

- US Dunkerque (Ligue 2 - France) -> 2-0 Win
- FCV Dender (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 3-0 Win
- RFC Liège (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 4-2 Win
- KV Kortrijk (Division 1 - Belgium) -> 1-1 Draw
- Eastleigh FC (Division 5 - England) -> 3-0 Win
- UNFP (unattached players/free agents) -> 0-0 Draw
- US Boulogne CO (Ligue 2 - France) -> 1-1 Draw
- FC Mons (Division 1 - Belgium) -> 3-1 Win

** LEAGUE SEASON **

Now for the league season, which kicks off tomorrow with an away game against Stade Malherbe Caen. The "Championnat National de Football" era is over; make way for "Ligue 3 Betclic." Here are a few new features:

- 4 referees (previously 3)
- A "professional" league (formerly semi-pro)
- No more free matches on YouTube (broadcast on Ligue1+, a paid channel)
- Video officiating (distinct from VAR), known as "Football Video Support"; this system is less complex than the VAR setup used in Ligue 1 and allows coaches two challenges per match to request a video review for incidents covered by the VAR protocol. This technology reflects a commitment to officiating innovation—a key priority for this new league.

Below, I’ve included a press article about our local "Phil Parsons," Mr. Yoann Godin.

Have a great day, everyone.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

https://www.lobservateur.fr/vafc-yoann-godin-ligue-3-ambitions-du-club/?uid=vpid&q_ressource_uri=https://www.lobservateur.fr/vafc-yoann-godin-ligue-3-ambitions-du-club/&widget=viewpay&success=true

VAFC: General Manager Yoann Godin opens up ahead of the Ligue 3 season and discusses the club's ambitions
August 6, 2026

After a successful pre-season, VAFC kicks off the new Ligue 3 campaign in Caen this Friday. General Manager Yoann Godin shares his thoughts and discusses the club's evolution.

At VAFC, a shift toward austerity hasn't stifled ambition. Although the club has scaled back operations and launched a major cost-cutting plan, majority shareholder Sport Republic remains committed to the team. Following a successful pre-season, Valenciennes begins the new Ligue 3 season this Friday with high hopes.

L'Observateur: VAFC finished pre-season unbeaten (8 matches) and showed great promise. Are you satisfied?

Yoann Godin: If we don't back it up against Caen or Bourg-en-Bresse, no one will be talking about it anymore (laughs). There are plenty of examples where early promise didn't last. We are indeed satisfied with our squad; while the roster had to be overhauled significantly, the players have spent five weeks together and logged plenty of game time. The coaching staff's game plan is taking shape, and the group seems tight-knit. We are doing everything we can to forge a cohesive team unit—something just as important as the purely sporting side of things.

Retaining Pierre Blois as head coach was a bold move. What is the status of his coaching qualification?

There was alignment between the group's sporting management in Southampton and us here in Valenciennes. We value his technical skills and wanted him to stay. We also appreciate that he is surrounded by people like Rudy Mater—figures deeply rooted in the local area who know the club's values inside out.

We began working behind the scenes in mid-April to find a way to keep him without incurring a fine. Sport Republic leveraged its connections, but he was the one who had to handle the necessary procedures. His tenure at the club and his recent promotion made him eligible for a Scottish training program. He won't receive his qualification for another two years, but in the meantime, he has a waiver allowing him to coach without issue.

Nine positions cut and cost-cutting across the board

After investing heavily, Sport Republic has significantly scaled back operations. What is the state of the club's finances?

We are still dealing with an ongoing crisis regarding media rights. While the third division isn't directly affected, it does impact player recruitment. In France, no club is profitable without selling players. Some of our prestigious rivals even start the season with a €40–50 million deficit to cover.

Our club maintains a solid structure, which comes at a cost. When people point to us as having the league's largest budget, they often overlook the fact that this covers a training center, a stadium, and other infrastructure. When looking strictly at the wage bill, the gap narrows considerably.

A redundancy plan had to be implemented; what were the consequences?

The shareholder had to put a comprehensive cost-cutting plan in place. This led to a restructuring process that ran from the start of the year through June, resulting in the elimination of nine positions. However, it also involved reducing costs at every level.

Is Sport Republic still committed to VA?

In any case, we have a shareholder who is very much present—and one we simply cannot do without for the time being. The only way to change that, as I just mentioned, is by selling players, but that relies on building momentum and achieving good results.

"Ligue 3 will be an innovative yet responsible league."

What does the new Ligue 3 (replacing the National division) offer the club?

The FFF is making a real effort to develop this league, which remains the competition that truly represents the regions. With broadcasts on Ligue 1+ and a sponsorship deal with Betclic, it will gain greater visibility and better coverage. Ligue 3 will narrow the gap in status between clubs and ultimately prepare the 18 founding teams to make the step up to Ligue 2.

It will serve as a testing ground—for instance, for the "Football Video Support" system (a modified version of VAR). At the same time, however, there will be constraints, such as capping the wage bill at 60% of revenue, with a gradual reduction to 40%. It is an innovative yet responsible league.

And what about the financial side?

There is a "club license" that allows teams meeting specific infrastructure and facility standards to access €400,000 in funding—sums previously allocated solely to support "federal" clubs. Until now, we had a €350,000 "parachute payment" that was set to expire this year—the third season following our relegation. We’ll be able to make up for that lost income, which is certainly a positive.

Improving the "stadium experience" has been a priority for you since you arrived. What can fans expect this season?

We are sticking to our goal of ensuring people have a great time, even beyond the football itself—encouraging them to arrive a bit early to enjoy the atmosphere at the stadium.

We’ll keep up our current momentum while maintaining financial discipline, perhaps focusing our efforts on specific matches more than others. We also always make a point of playing an active role in the local community and its festivities—like the upcoming Binbin festival.

The Leclercq stand will remain closed this season. Is that an economic decision?

Opening only the Nungesser and Ouest stands allows us to improve the atmosphere and the stadium's visual appeal, given that we are in Ligue 3. But, inevitably, the primary reason is economic.

The minimum shift for security staff has gone from four to six hours. That means, without any other changes, the cost per match would have nearly doubled. We are streamlining operations, but we aren't ruling out opening more sections if attendance rises. That is certainly our hope.

"We’ll do everything to stay in the mix"

Relations with the fans became strained for the first time last season. What is the situation now?

The difficult moment was in December (the match against Sochaux was halted after fans stormed the pitch-side area and threw objects—Ed.). Since then, we’ve had plenty of dialogue. They said what they had to say, and so did we. I hold no grudges, and I hope they don't either. The takeaway is that we want to kickstart a new momentum.

Last year, we never once spoke about promotion. Yet hopes were high, making the disappointment all the greater. Whatever is said, football is ultimately about emotions. And, in the end, that comes down to winning.

After the brilliant "Olive & Tom" jersey stunt, you’re returning to a classic design—at the risk of sparking debate...

The opportunity was too good to pass up, given the return of Toyota and the Japan connection. But we can't do that every year. We have a kit supplier, Hummel, that plays along and accepts our requests to align with local history—while still adhering to certain constraints, like the chevron design on the home shirt. That one pays tribute to the Prix de Rome, while the first away kit—which seems to be a universal hit—honors the logos. There’s still one more to be revealed soon.

I suppose there’s no point asking for a prediction. But perhaps a goal?

We’re doing everything we can to improve and stay in the mix. With the new play-off system, the "dead zone" in the middle of the table will shrink in Ligue 3. But our real goal—and the real disappointment we want to avoid—is about stability: being able to build a squad that can carry us through two seasons. Beyond that, it’s all so unpredictable.

Is starting the season at Caen a real test?

Yes. At the same time, the scoreline won't mean all that much. What will be interesting is seeing how the team reacts—not just to the euphoria of a win, but also during the tough spells. As I always say: let's see where we stand in March (laughs).

[Saint86]

8 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well. After a few days of being unavailable, here is some news from Valenciennes:

** HEAD COACH **

As previously announced, Pierre Blois will indeed be the Valenciennes coach this season. Sport Republic is placing a lot of faith in Pierre; he has been with the club for several years and coached various youth academy teams before stepping up to the professional squad.

** HOME AND AWAY KITS **

With a slight delay, the club has officially unveiled two of the three kits: the home kit on July 30 and the away kit on August 5. Photos of the kits are below:

** FRIENDLY MATCHES **

The friendly matches have now concluded, with a total of 8 games played:

- US Dunkerque (Ligue 2 - France) -> 2-0 Win
- FCV Dender (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 3-0 Win
- RFC Liège (Division 2 - Belgium) -> 4-2 Win
- KV Kortrijk (Division 1 - Belgium) -> 1-1 Draw
- Eastleigh FC (Division 5 - England) -> 3-0 Win
- UNFP (unattached players/free agents) -> 0-0 Draw
- US Boulogne CO (Ligue 2 - France) -> 1-1 Draw
- FC Mons (Division 1 - Belgium) -> 3-1 Win

** LEAGUE SEASON **

Now for the league season, which kicks off tomorrow with an away game against Stade Malherbe Caen. The "Championnat National de Football" era is over; make way for "Ligue 3 Betclic." Here are a few new features:

- 4 referees (previously 3)
- A "professional" league (formerly semi-pro)
- No more free matches on YouTube (broadcast on Ligue1+, a paid channel)
- Video officiating (distinct from VAR), known as "Football Video Support"; this system is less complex than the VAR setup used in Ligue 1 and allows coaches two challenges per match to request a video review for incidents covered by the VAR protocol. This technology reflects a commitment to officiating innovation—a key priority for this new league.

Below, I’ve included a press article about our local "Phil Parsons," Mr. Yoann Godin.

Have a great day, everyone.

Promising form in pre season, I like the idea of a manager promoted from within who has been at various levels of the club over a number of years. Feels a good fit for the hoped for resurgence. Fingers crossed you guys get promoted this year!