CAMBRIDGE HAS THE BLUES; OXFORD DON'T

As in many places in Britain, there was an annual MOB game, usually at Shrovetide, or at some other celebration. In Cambridge, the "Town v Gown Football Match" was held in 1579 at a local Cambridge village, Chesterton. In 1634, following numerous, injuries, chaos and some deaths during this annual event, there was a decree from the university, banning such riotous affairs! By 1863, this was rescinded and football laws based on Cambridge University's "Foot Ball Rules" became the basis on the FA code. Football resumed in a rather more acceptable nature on Cambridge's Parker's Piece, a large green space on the edge of the city. 

On the strength of this administration, The Football Association was formed in 1863 and the universities established their own football clubs.  The first Cambridge and Oxford Varsity match, based on these laws, was held at The Oval, Surrey CCC, on March 30th 1874. A 0-1 defeat for Cambridge.  The Varsity Soccer match, like other sporting events, became an annual event.

It was Cambridge U v Oxford U yesterday, a Sunday fixture at Cambridge United's ground, the Abbey Stadium. NO NOT Uniteds.....but Universities. Well done to the professional club and to the university committees, for arranging a very pleasant day. The student men played the 137th match against the Dark Blues, the first Varsity match played in March 1874. The Women were playing their 36th match. Oxford lead the men's victories tally 54-50 and for the women, it's Cambridge 20-14.

On the day, Oxford won the Womens' tie on penalties and the Mens' match 1-0. Other recent "Varsity" matches were: (Reserve teams) Cambridge Falcons 3 v Oxford Centaurs 1. Womens' Second teams  Cambridge win 2-0.  Mens' 3rd XIs 1-1 draw. Below: the First Cambridge teams in front of King's College.

Who was at the match? Around 2,000 attended the annual Varsity match, parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. There were plenty of old boys and girls (my cohort was well represented), thanks to some excellent secretarial work by John Little, a well known old boy of St Catharine's College,(Cantab), a Light Blue and an FA official. John celebrated his 50th year in association with the Cambridge University FA, earning his first Blue in 1972.

Jerry Wallwork, another old St Catharine's man, rallied  his cohort, and a dozen or so of us enjoyed Varsity match hospitality. ONE of Jerry's claims to fame is to have scored the winner in the 1970 Varsity match (my debut!). We played at Wembley in front of around 19,000 adoring parents and family, college chums and thousands of screaming school kids, who were chuffed to be at the National Stadium and having a day off school. Cambridge won that Varsity match 1-0!

David Miller, an Old Carthusian (old boy of Charterhouse School) and well known Sports' journalist and Peter Phillips were also present, amongst a distinguished group of alumni. Miller had stories from his two Varsity matches, his debut in 1954/5, a 3-2 win to Cambridge and in 1955/6, also a 4-2 win. 

Peter Phillips, who played with Luton Town after uni, was an Amateur international in 1968-9, playing against Northern Ireland and Italy! He was a welcome guest and I am afraid there were no other "full" internationals present, the last known one to have earned his cap was C.T. Ashton playing for England against Ireland in 1926!

The university teams now play in the British University and College Sports Leagues. 

Back in the day the two universities played traditional "friendlies", mainly against teams from professional clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham and of course the local town sides. These might include youngsters or established players recovering from injury. Bob Wilson and Graham Souness come to mind! There were also the Armed Forces XIs, the AFA XI, the FA XI, Corinthian Casuals and other strong traditional opposition. In preparation for their Blues' match, the students didn't win many matches! 

A pleasant addition to this university celebration is the CUAFC Foundation, an initiative helping level out one of the nation's most "unequal cities"! The players are committed to an agreed number of hours supporting local schools in PE arrangements and acting as positive role models in the community. Congratulations to Kosi Nwuba the CUAFC Co-President for this foundation, which of course, is also driven by public donations. Below: The Abbey Stadium.