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National: "She was with me tonight," says Gaëtan Courtet after a deeply emotional goal Gaëtan Courtet, who scored Valenciennes' second goal immediately after coming on as a substitute, dedicated it to his mother, who passed away during the winter break. Like his teammates, Gaëtan Courtet didn't get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. "We have to savor this and build on what we've achieved, but six months have passed, and they've been very difficult. We have to stay humble. I don't see why we should get carried away," he said after the match. The Valenciennes striker, who started on the bench while Charles Abi made his debut leading the Valenciennes attack, initially watched his new teammate make a successful start in Valenciennes by scoring in his very first match. Then, around the 65th minute, Courtet came on as a substitute, ten minutes after Valenciennes had conceded an equalizer. He partnered Charles Abi in a 4-4-2 formation, a system Stéphane Moulin had mentioned as a real option before the match. Less than a minute later, with his first touch after an Alain Ipiele cross was cleared straight down the middle by the opposing defense, the 36-year-old striker put his team back on track. Quick and efficient. "I'm going to try not to get teary-eyed..." "Scoring with my first touch has maybe happened once or twice in my career, but like that, after just one minute..." he breathed, his voice trailing off. It was he again, at the very end of the match, who pressed forward to set up Alain Ipiele for the third goal. Gaëtan Courtet symbolizes those substitutes who made a real difference for Valenciennes in a match that was particularly poignant for him. The northern striker, who took over the captain's armband upon entering the game, lost his mother during the international break. His celebration was understated yet deeply emotional, a true tribute. "I'll try not to get teary-eyed," he confided when recounting his performance. "But that goal and that victory are for her. She was with me tonight."

My recap of tonight's match: In a somewhat subdued atmosphere, due to the absence of supporters' groups, the fans present at the Stade du Hainaut hoped to see a better performance from their team after a difficult first half of the season. With the team's "revenge" mentality announced the day before the match, there was definitely anticipation on the pitch. Among the 11 players who started the match, the three winter signings were in the starting lineup. The first 35 minutes were evenly matched between the two teams, although Valenciennes had a slight edge. Valenciennes opened the scoring through Charles Abi, who had to make a second save after his initial shot hit the right post of the opposing goal. At halftime, Valenciennes held a one-goal lead, but they should be wary of Bourg-en-Bresse! Returning from the locker room in the 52nd minute, Bryan Passi lost possession dangerously in the center of the defense, and on one of the few shots from the opposition, he equalized 1-1... The match became more balanced, and both teams made substitutions around the 65th minute. For Valenciennes, Courtet and Ipiele entered the pitch. A minute later, Ipiele broke down the wing, and Courtet pounced on a loose ball in front of goal and fired it into the back of the net (66th minute), giving VA a 2-1 lead. The end of the match was tense, with a hint of an equalizer in the air. VA held firm defensively, and in the final minute, Ipiele scored to make it 3-1 on a counter-attack (the opposing goalkeeper made a slight handling error, in my opinion). The match ended, and I saw smiles all around me. We were going to have a good weekend; that doesn't happen often, and it was a real morale booster. But this needs to continue, the club needs to keep working, not rest on its laurels, and build real momentum that will last... Let's hope so! Go VA!

National: "Everyone was waiting for this," three goals, one victory, the simple pleasures of victory in Valenciennes. By scoring three times for the first time this season, Valenciennes dominated Bourg-en-Bresse (3-1) and rediscovered the simple joy of winning. Not without a few scares, but the year begins with a smile. This obviously needs to be sustained over time, and no one in Valenciennes intended to get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. There was no question of getting ahead of themselves after only their fifth win of the season, but since victory had been a rare commodity until then, the Valenciennes players savored it for what it was. There was also the relief of securing three points for the first time since the end of October and after a December that was complicated in many respects. “Everyone was waiting for this, we needed it because we’ve had some tough matches and it frustrated everyone,” confirmed a beaming Samir Belloumou, who finally got to play a full match in a Valenciennes shirt. Abi, Courtet, Ipiele scorers The other good news of the evening was the three attacking players who scored: Charles Abi in his first match, Gaetan Courtet with his first touch, and Alain Ipiele for the first time this season. Three goals for VAFC is unprecedented this season and certainly helps in winning a match. The equalizer from Bourg-en-Bresse’s first shot on target (52nd minute) and Jean Louchet’s goal-line clearance immediately afterward (55th minute) served as a reminder that all is not yet settled at VA. “We’re going to stay calm.” “At that moment, you feel like things could change, but we didn’t give up,” said Stéphane Moulin. “I’m also very happy to see what the substitutes brought; I saw a united and tenacious group. We’re going to savor this because it hasn’t happened to us very often. But I’m not fooling myself, we’re going to stay calm.” Because it will take more than that to win back a supporters’ section that had deserted its stand and created a very subdued atmosphere at the Hainaut stadium. The atmosphere certainly warmed up when Valenciennes secured the victory in stoppage time thanks to Alain Ipiele. Goals and a victory that bring relief: sometimes, football can also be a simple pleasure in Valenciennes. Valenciennes – Bourg-en-Bresse: 3-1 (1-0) 4,745 spectators Goals: Abi (35'), Courtet (66'), Ipiele (90+6') for Valenciennes, Cissé (52') for Bourg-en-Bresse Yellow card: Cissé (90+2') for Bourg-en-Bresse Valenciennes: Louchet; Airhivabere (Coeff 64'), Landre, Passi (Wahib 77'), Koum; Belloumou (captain), Marechal (Ipiele 64'); Rouai; K. Diomande (Courtet 64'), Abi, El Hadary (Takaoka 88'). Foreign coach: Stéphane Moulin Bourg-en-Bresse: Boulhendi; Do Marcolino, Lacour, Vitre; Laspalles, Bodmer, Slimani (Touray 53rd), Meyer, Pembele (Guel 70th); Cissé, Boumaaoui (Logbo 82nd). Coach: David Le Frapper

In live at Stade du Hainaut. End game. VA win 3-1 🥰 Scorer: Abi / Courtet / Ipiele Résume of the game later. Allez VA ! ❤️🤍

"Withdrawn until further notice," what will the atmosphere be like in the stands for Valenciennes vs. Bourg-en-Bresse? Facing Bourg-en-Bresse this Friday, Valenciennes returns to the Stade du Hainaut for the first time since the match against Sochaux was abandoned. And the supporters' section isn't expected to make much noise. The year ended badly in Valenciennes. In fact, it hadn't ended at all, since the last match at the Hainaut stadium, on December 12 against Sochaux, wasn't completed. Approaching stoppage time, with VA trailing 1-0, several dozen supporters positioned themselves between the stands and the advertising boards. Too close to the pitch to allow play to continue, and with the tension never subsiding, the match was ultimately abandoned. While Valenciennes FC (VAFC) is still waiting to learn the fate of its disciplinary committee, the disastrous evening against Sochaux has severely strained relations between the supporters' groups in the stands and the club's management. The former took full responsibility in a statement, while measures were taken – commercial bans and complaints filed – against the identified supporters. A Silent Stand Five weeks later, the tension has eased, but the atmosphere is likely to be very subdued in the stands for this first match of the year. A meeting was recently held at the sub-prefecture, but dialogue has not resumed between management and the main supporters' groups, who have decided to withdraw "until further notice," without giving a date for their return to the stands. "There was a real sense of frustration." “It’s up to us to make sure it transforms into something where we feel support rather than the opposite,” hopes Stéphane Moulin, who was also pleasantly surprised by the turnout on Wednesday for the New Year’s reception for partners. “To my great surprise, there were so many of them, which means people haven’t abandoned the team. We need to stick together,” he explains, as he expects a strong show of pride from his players in the second half of the season. It will begin without their most ardent supporters.

It seems that Derrick Abu isn't a good fit at the moment; I think he'll go with our reserve team...

It's true that a lot of hope is being placed on Charles Abi's shoulders, because we haven't scored many goals so far... Our coach likes the 4-4-2 formation; I think he could put the Courtet/Abi duo up front tonight... In the stands, the order has been given not to position themselves in the supporters' zone; there will be very little chanting and support from the stands tonight...

National League: "It might sound crazy, I know," says Valenciennes' league leader, Charles Abi, expected to deliver. While awaiting the arrival of a midfielder in the coming days, Valenciennes will be able to count on its three new signings against Bourg-en-Bresse. Among them is striker Charles Abi, who arrived from Rouen to put pressure on defenses and broaden the range of attacking options. Charles is a fitting name for a savior. The league isn't in danger, but Valenciennes needs a serious attacking boost to ensure a more peaceful second half of the season, and the man tasked with sparking the comeback has arrived from Normandy. Leaving Rouen, the National League leaders, to join a 13th-placed team, the 25-year-old striker is well aware of the unusual path he has taken. “I know it might sound crazy, even silly, but I loved the challenge I was given here,” he asserts. Stéphane Moulin and Mathieu Frison also seized the opportunity to attract an effective player – 23 matches, 10 goals in 2025 – but whom the owner of FC Rouen no longer wanted to see for obscure reasons, including a red card received during Rouen’s only league defeat. Partnered with Courtet, an additional option His departure isn’t about money and surprised the Normandy fans, who haven’t forgotten his sensational arrival during last year’s winter transfer window (8 goals in 13 matches). While waiting to see if the effect continues at Valenciennes, the towering Charles (1.89m) offers another weapon in Moulin’s arsenal. “He’s good in the air, he makes runs in behind, he’s fast. He’s capable of playing a one-two and he’s not clumsy in front of goal,” lists the Valenciennes coach, whose preference for the 4-4-2 formation could resurface in a partnership with Gaëtan Courtet. “There’s no saying they won’t play together,” he muses. “In any case, it’s another possibility now.” Whatever the system, Charles Abi knows he’s expected to deliver in a team whose pride is being called upon to bounce back. The new striker knows something about that: before rediscovering his form and effectiveness a year ago in Rouen, he already experienced his share of hardship. His debut at Saint-Étienne, his boyhood club, was disastrous. Scoring in the final and winning the Gambardella Cup in 2019, and reaching the Coupe de France final a year later, Abi experienced Ligue 1 and the Europa League before even turning twenty. Then his loan spell at Guingamp (2021-2022) and his two years in Switzerland with Lausanne were marred by recurring injuries linked to a muscle weakness that has now been resolved. "Maybe I needed to go through that, I skipped some steps at the beginning, U19s, a bit of National 2-National 3, and quickly moved to the professional ranks," explains the player who has the distinction of having already played and scored in the top four French divisions. But it is in the National league that his efficiency rate is highest. VAFC – Bourg-en-Bresse, Friday 7:30 pm Unavailable: Thomas, A. Diomande, Appuah (injured) Boissier (suspended)

Hello friends, I hope you are all well? Once again, I wish you a happy new year 2026 and send you my best wishes. News from Valenciennes after a few weeks' break. ** Winter transfer window ** Two players have officially left the club: -> Jordan POHA (contract terminated due to breach of contract; the player encouraged a former Valenciennes player currently on loan at Aubagne on Instagram) -> Samy BAGHDADI (on loan with an option to buy to FC Sochaux) Three players have officially joined the club: -> Charles ABI (forward), from FC Rouen. -> Erin AIRHIAVBERE (right-back), from FC Lorient's B team. -> Bryan PASSI (centre-back), from Mafra (Portuguese third division) ** Friendly matches ** Since the end of the match against FC Sochaux and the attempted pitch invasion by around thirty supporters, Valenciennes has played two friendly matches: -> 6 January: Match against Olympic Charleroi, currently in Belgian Division 2 (3-0 win) -> 9 January: Match against Francs-Borains, currently in Belgian Division 2 (3-3 draw) ** Championship ** The championship resumes tonight with a home match at the Stade du Hainaut against Bourg en Bresse. Our coach Stephane Moulin spoke to the press yesterday, saying he wanted to get back on track and that everyone was ‘out for revenge’ for the rest of the season. We'll get our first answer tonight at the Stade du Hainaut. The supporters have announced an ‘end of season in the stands’ and most of them will not be at the stadium tonight. For my part, I continue to believe that the hard work will eventually pay off and that we will win more matches in the future. Kick-off for tonight's match is at 7:30 p.m. French time, and I am sharing the link to the match below: I wish you all a very nice day. Allez VA !

The third ingredient: the president's absence from day-to-day operations. We're not used to this way of doing things, to the point that some fans only discovered his name this week through an article published on the club's website. The club is therefore currently managed by a general manager, accompanied by a communications director. While we acknowledge their generally decent work since their arrival, their expertise in sporting matters appears somewhat limited. Finally, in the stands, a majority of supporters today are young people who did not experience the glory years between 2005 and 2013. Their frustration is very strong and their patience is probably less than that of older supporters. A meeting was recently held with the club's management. What were the outcomes? For several months, we had been working with the club on a sanctions schedule. The rules and consequences of certain actions were not sufficiently clear. We had also asked the club to reconsider its stance regarding the systematic filing of complaints for incidents that, in our opinion, did not cross the line. Without going into detail, we made a proactive contribution and accepted and approved this schedule a few weeks before the match against Sochaux. In this document, we asked the club to commit to summoning supporters in the event of a breach of the club's internal regulations. The purpose of this meeting was therefore for the club to request explanations and inform us of the action it intended to take. What consequences do you fear, given that the club has reportedly filed a complaint against those who accessed the pitch against Sochaux? That's what we were told, anyway: formal complaints against those identified, complaints against persons unknown for the others, all accompanied by a six-month stadium ban. Some fans could receive these letters as early as Christmas week… a rather unfortunate trend, these notifications during the holiday season. The club's desire to take a firm stance is understandable, but what's most apparent is a fear of the disciplinary committee's reaction. As mentioned earlier, the sanctions table—admittedly imperfect—was precisely intended to clarify matters. However, the club has informed us of its intention to modify it and add lines beyond this infamous "red line." The disagreement lies here: for us, this pitch-side intervention corresponds to line 2, or even 3, of the penalty table, which carries a three-month suspension of season tickets, without the need for a formal complaint, for a first offense. If the club subsequently believes the table is incomplete and wishes to make adjustments, that's fine; we remain open to dialogue. However, we cannot accept that the sanctions applied are not those stipulated at the time of the incident. In your very scathing statement , you also pointed the finger at the club's responsibility. For what reasons? The club cannot place all the blame on us; that would be too easy. We are responsible and we will accept the consequences of this action. But it must also be acknowledged that the club very poorly managed the preparation for this match and the organization on the day itself. Since 2014 and the relegation to Ligue 2, the club has no real Director of Organization and Security (DOS). This role was added to the duties of the head of general services, with whom there is virtually no dialogue. We've had several clashes in the past, and certain remarks, such as "pseudo-supporters" made on his social media, have never been acceptable to us. During the week of the match, despite the high tension surrounding the game, neither management nor he contacted us. We also criticize the club for having, once again, changed security companies. Securing a lively section of the stands is complex, and the current company, like its employees, lacks the necessary experience and skills. We are convinced that with a proper Operations Directorate (ODS), serious preparation beforehand, a real presence with the stand leaders, and the involvement of known and respected stewards, this event would never have happened, or at least not in this way. That much is certain. How are you approaching the second half of the season given that the club is not out of the woods yet in terms of sporting performance? As far as we're concerned, barring any major changes, the season is over. We can't return to the stadium under these circumstances and without a large portion of our players. We will therefore be preparing, with our lawyer, for the legal consequences. On the pitch, we hope for a genuine awakening of the players' conscience, but also for profound changes in the organizational structure, with the arrival of a true sporting director, a successful transfer window, and a decent end to the season to secure our place in the league as quickly as possible, in order to best prepare for next season. Interview by Romain PECHON and Enzo PAILOT Well, well, the shoddy journalists at 11hdf have struck again, how surprising! All they know how to do is write trashy articles attacking the club, just trying to stir up controversy... Journalism is a real profession and not everyone is cut out for it. They should go to Lille or Lens, where the grass is probably greener! A saying to end with: ‘If you're not there during my struggles, my doubts and my failures, don't expect to be there during my victories and successes.’

Let's go Saint's !!!!

Joyeux Noel tout le monde ! Merry Christmas everyone !

Thank you very much. Happy holidays to all Southampton supporters, your friends and family. I wish you all the best for 2026!

My friends, it's time for me to share my thoughts with you as the year draws to a close. I know that my fellow countryman will disagree with me, but I am giving you my sincere, realistic, and consistent point of view. Sport Républic arrived in the summer of 2023 and took over a club that was in very bad shape, on the verge of permanent closure, after 15 months of complicated negotiations with the former owner (on Monday, he wanted to sell the club, on Tuesday, he said he no longer wanted to sell, on Wednesday, he didn't know whether he was selling or not)... 2023/2024 season: SR finally took over the club late in the day (the other clubs had already done their recruitment), so they had to act quickly, and as the saying goes, it's not always possible to do things quickly and well. They recruited 15 players from all over the world, targeted via data, but in the end, they were relegated to the third division and two-thirds of the players they recruited left. This was their first mistake, but could he have done otherwise given the timeframe of the takeover? 2024/2025 season: In the second year, recruitment was a little better but not enough to get back into Ligue 2. The club was at the bottom of the table in the winter of 2024, but the second half of the season allowed them to finish in the middle of the table. There was also a change of sporting director, with Mathieu Frison replacing Ben Chorley, who was blamed by many fans for the team's poor performance. 2025/2026 season: new coach (Stéphane Moulin replaces Vincent Hognon, who left for Sochaux). The roster has undergone significant changes, with many departures and numerous arrivals (around 15 new players as of July 2023). This time, the goal is to avoid making the same mistakes as two years ago. The result: The recruitment of French players with experience in the French leagues. Frankly, for many Valenciennes fans, we all found the recruitment consistent and competitive this summer. We knew that it would take time for the players to get to know each other and for the team to gel. Six months later, the conclusion is clear: promising players are disappointing and not living up to expectations. No one really understands where these difficulties are coming from. Are they too comfortable? (The Stade du Hainaut and the training center are worthy of Ligue 1.) Are they under too much pressure in Valenciennes? Yet the salaries they are paid are higher than what most other third division clubs offer their players.... Is the coach's message no longer getting through? There are many questions here, and concern is understandable. The fans are expecting more, and the ambition is certainly there. So yes, SR isn't perfect, and probably never will be. They've made mistakes, and always will, but they're trying to correct them and are working hard to get results. The world of soccer is often difficult to gauge and very unpredictable. To say that I am not disappointed with this situation would be a lie, and to say that this situation satisfies me and also satisfies SR would also be a lie... The fans' reaction to Sochaux last Friday was logical and understandable, even if, in my opinion, there were other ways to show their dissatisfaction. What was done will penalize the club for the rest of the championship and is detrimental to the club... We, the Valenciennes fans, have been waiting 13 years for our club to regain its ambition and climb back up the leagues, so it's true that our impatience is legitimate. But it takes time for things to work out in the long term... This winter, the club will make some minor changes to the squad. I expect several players to leave and several to arrive. The players who join us in January will have to be ready and understand that expectations are high. To conclude, and as I have already said, I will always place my trust in SR, and I am convinced that sooner or later, the hard work will pay off and we will be smiling again in Valenciennes. I would also like to announce that I plan to pay you a visit for a weekend before the end of the season, and I hope to see some of you before a Saints game. My friends in Southampton, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your friends and loved ones. Take care of yourselves. Joyeux Noël à tous et bonne année 2026 ! Allez VA !

In fact, of the €30 million invested by Sport Républic since July 2023: - Between €3 and €5 million was given to the former owner. (Who wanted to recover some of the money he had invested, even though I don't think he put much in over 10 years lol). - Between €5 million and €10 million was used to pay off the debts the club had at the time of the takeover (to companies, conflicts with former players). - The rest was used to upgrade the club (part of it for administrative purposes and the rest for sporting purposes). It may seem completely crazy, but an employee at the club could perform several functions (for example, taking care of ticketing and security at the same time). Today, the club has dozens more employees, and everyone does what they are supposed to do.