FCV Grace Dieu - FCV International Football Academy

FCV Grace Dieu

Grace Dieu Manor Drive

Thringstone

Coalville 

Leicestershire

LE67 5UG

01933 420000

FCV Academy Website

Twitter

Ground Number: 1451

Saturday 26th July 2025

FCV Grace Dieu 3-0 Shirebrook Town

United Counties D1

FCV GRACE DIEU - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club started as an academy in 2007 and can claim to be the UK's first-ever private football academy. They provide facilities for players aged 14 and over, situated in Grace Dieu Manor Park. The academy enjoys access to top-class football facilities, including small-sided and full-size football pitches, a swimming pool, sports hall, and gym. Luxury accommodation and educational facilities are also provided. The men's side itself was only established in 2023 but has enjoyed a rapid rise. Starting at step 8, in the Notts Senior League Division 1, they were runners-up to FC Cavaliers in their first season. Last season, they were in the Notts Senior Premier, and they won the title to seal promotion to the United Counties Division 1 for this season.

Grace Dieu Manor is a 19th-century country house near Thringstone in Leicestershire, England, occupied by Grace Dieu Manor School until 2020. It is a Grade II listed building. In 2022, the 66-acre site was sold to FCV International Football Academy by previous owners, the Rosminians. The village of Thringstone is located three miles north of Coalville and has a population of just under 4,500. It compares with 901 in 1801 - the growth in population being a result of the industrial revolution, particularly local coal mining. A notable demographic impact on the village, connected with coal mining, also occurred during the 1960s, when many families migrated to the village from Scotland and the North East of England as a result of colliery transfers, resulting in the creation of the Woodside Estate. Following the demise of the local coal-mining industry, the population has been sustained due to the development of alternative commerce in nearby towns and cities, easily accessible by improved transport. Footballer Gary McCalister was formerly a resident at nearby Gracedieu Warren during the time of his career at Coventry City.

MY VISIT

There were mixed feelings when Groundhop UK announced this year's United Counties League Hop. I knew in advance that Louth Town were going to be on the schedule, despite them decamping to the Northern Counties East League. Therefore, I really wanted them to be on Friday or Sunday, as all of my fellow hoppers had been there. It was sod's law, but common sense that they would be on the Sunday, along with the equally distant Skegness Town. However, Saturday presented a new ground in a slimmed-down three-game schedule. FCV Grace Dieu was the middle game, and as a recently promoted side, they were one that I needed. The games on either side were pretty good too, despite being revisits. Gresley Rovers was a classic old ground that I had been to in 2015, and I needed the local Wetherspoons too. The latter game, Daventry Town, was a ground I had not been to since 2012. I wasn't happy with either the photos or my blog entry and had been considering it for a revisit for a while. The reduced schedule also meant a 7 PM kickoff, which was good for getting back home after, what with the dreaded Sunday morning work shift at 5 AM.

From our game at Wythenshawe, Colin & I headed home. It was disappointing to be only seeing one game and weird not to be at a game at on a Saturday afternoon. But the footballing gods had dealt me those cards with no 3 PM games. It was a good journey home. Colin slept most of the way and managed to avoid soiling himself again following a stomach upset he refused to take medication for. I put my Munichs by David Peace audiobook on as I went through bright sunshine in the north and torrential rain in the south. I dropped my fellow hopper off at 6 and was home 15 minutes later. I had plenty to catch up with and pack away, as well as uploading my last blog. An excellent bottle of Deja Bu from Ross On Wye helped me relax and was really tasty.  I was, as ever, wired on a Saturday night and took ages to drop off. As a result, I was drowsy the following day, not great on the busiest day of the year, with the weekly family day out. A nap was required the following afternoon, but it got me back on track. Monday was far nicer, and I started this blog in the evening.

It was a standard Tuesday day off, although I was frustrated at not being able to make any headway in booking a European trip. There aren't enough fixtures available on Futbology to make planning easy, but at the moment, I favour Lithuania or a similar option. It's a shame that getting into Belarus is nearly impossible, as that looks great. With no local new ticks, I decided to revisit Amersham Town for their friendly against Deportivo Galacia. It was a mediocre game as they beat Deportivo Galicia 4-0. At least it was a cheap night out, just the £3 car costs as it was free entry. The rest of the week dragged as I saw others going to football, but there were no options that I fancied within a reasonable distance. I was knackered by the end of the week, and Friday was a real slog and very busy to boot. I was glad to get home and have a rest and a few drinks to unwind. Another evening of wishing I was at football, but again, nothing that I fancied. I was in bed at 9, albeit only watching TV.

I was asleep around 9.30 and woke up at 5.30, a better night's sleep than usual. After reading and watching YouTube videos, I got up, dressed and had breakfast before leaving at 7.30. Colin and Ollie were waiting for me, good lads, although Colin had forgotten his tablets but reckoned it didn't matter. It was a nice journey up, but the weather, being what it is, pissed it down after being sunny all week. By the time we got to a side street near Gresley at 9.50, it was just drizzle and we walked 20 minutes to Wetherspoons 422, The Sir Nigel Gresley. Another good Spoons for a breakfast muffin, energy drink and Black Dragon for £6.11. Colin spilt half of his muffin down himself and made up for it by stealing half of Ollie's breakfast, but mine was great. It was 20 minutes walk back to the ground where it was £8 in and £2.50 for chips. The tea bar was doing good business, and it was a wait, but good to help out a great club. That said, the cheesy chips looked worth the upgrade as they actually melted the cheese.

 

It was a great ground to revisit, but the game kicked off 16 minutes late at 11.46 due to a replacement referee being needed. Whatever happened, they sorted it out quickly with the linesman having travelled 90 minutes at short notice. It was a tale of set pieces, Gresley thumping the bar from a free kick either side of Craig Westcarr's penalties on 13 and 27 minutes, the former football league striker still playing at the age of 40. It was a rather one-sided game with all of the goals up the other end. It was 3-0 to Sherwood on 41 minutes, a curling low shot from the edge of the area by Westcarr to complete his hat trick. At half time, I went to the bar and purchased a pennant for a fiver, despite getting a mug last time, I fancied one. It was a good day off the pitch for the club as they drew an attendance of 597. They improved in the second half and pulled a scrambled goal back through Sam Moore on 57 minutes. However, two minutes later, Sherwood's three-goal lead was restored as Westcarr capitalised on sloppy defending to make it 4-1. It was 5-1 with a great strike on 89 minutes to complete the rout.

 

From there, it was 25 minutes to FCV Grace Dieu, where it was well organised. I popped into the cafe, sadly no loaded chips as advertised, but I did get a badge for a, quid that was 50p at the turnstile. Oh well, it was well-priced entry at a fiver, but the drinks were less so; a can of Strongbow Dark Fruits was £4.50. Overall, it was a decent setup for what was essentially a 3G cage. It kicked off a few minutes late, given the delay at Gresley. It was two contrasting teams, the older away side with a few physiques that are more in line with me and the young home side. The game was dull but competitive in the first half hour. There was quite a drop-off in attendance with 286 present, many choosing to go elsewhere, surprisingly. It was a dull start to the second half until the hour when a penalty was awarded to FCV for handball. The poor effort was easily saved, but the complaining of one of the Shirebrook players saw him go in the sin bin. It was finally 1-0 to the students just after the hour, a square ball from the right blasted home. It was deserved as they'd had the better chances. Shirebrook were hard to break down, but offered little going forward. It was 2-0 on 80 minutes, a ball forward was taken around the keeper and slotted into the net. Shirebrook did nearly pull one back near the end, a great curling shot hitting the post. It was 3-0 on 89 minutes with a goal on the break, which the keeper completely missed. It was a long half with the referee dragging his heels in a 57-minute half.

 

THE GROUND 

FCV International Football Academy is a decent 3G cage with supporter accommodation on one side and behind one goal. It's well kept, but sadly, the large club signage behind one goal has been replaced by plain back tarpaulin. There is a decent-sized cover behind one goal, and this has a few random seats, but that's it. Along the side, there is a raised bank and a bar selling a choice of cans - Budweiser, Stella and Strongbow Dark Fruits. The food outside is also quite limited. However, a decent range of merchandise is available considering the level. There is lots of parking but being isolated, I'm not sure about public transport links.