We enjoyed our visit at VAFC in Valenciennes.   The youth academy is on break but youngest teams were holding tryouts and the men’s professional team was in preseason. Interesting learning about the club, including emphasis on growing girls/women’s team as of two years ago. Some big names played for VAFC including French legend Jean-Pierre Papin, Cameroon’s Roger Milla, Burrachaga from Argentina, David Regis, who played for the US team.
They have approximately 20 youth players (currently all boys) that live on site and attend school run by the club. The facility – fields, clubhouse, and dorms are about 10 years old.  The stadium for the club, Stade de Hainaut, hosted six Women’s World Cup games.

At VAFC