In a truly nail-biting match at Iffley Road (the Wembley of Football Cuppers), Brasenose College triumphed over Teddy Hall last Friday - in the inter-college men's football knock out competition - known as "cuppers". The match was fought valiantly by both sides right up to the final whistle when the score was 2-2, and the contest was only eventually settled by penalties (4-3 to Brasenose). The atmosphere was buzzing, the football was top quality (as far as college football goes anyway), and, as a member of Brasenose, the victory was a very proud moment.
The 2016 Cuppers Final began suitably as both teams walked out to the Champions League theme tune, which foreshadowed perfectly the intensity and tension that the crowd were to experience in the first half. Brasenose soon took the lead with a somewhat scrappy goal from Wulfie Bain, following from some silky build-up play from the team in Black and Gold. Teddy Hall (the ubquitous nickname for St Edmund Hall), far from disheartened, turned up the intensity and increased the pressure on Brasenose. Teddy’s hard work was finally rewarded late in the first half when a cross from the winger was put into the mixer and found its way in the back of the net after a very impressive header. The teams went in at half time neck and neck, promising more drama for the second half.
Not too long after the whistle was blown for the second half, Wulfie Bain scored what must be one of the greatest goals in Cuppers history with an overhead kick over the keeper’s head: 2-1 to Brasenose College. Shock and jubilation spread through the Brasenose teams and their fans. However, Teddy Hall, once again chasing the game, exemplified impressive resolve and forced Brasenose’s back against the wall. Shot after shot was saved by the Brasenose keeper, Tom Colthorpe, and still no equaliser for the Hall. The final whistle beckoned and we entered into injury time. Hope and desperation flooded Teddy’s camp. A free kick was won by Teddy around 20 yards outside the Brasenose box whilst the Brasenose captain, Conor McCleary, was momentarily off the pitch with cramp. The ball was floated in, and after several failed clearances by Brasenose, a shot by Teddy Hall took a deflection and the ball found itself in the back of the Brasenose net. 2-2 and the match progressed into extra time.
Tiredness and cramp troubled both the teams in the 30 minutes of extra time, but all the players pushed through and maintained the high quality of the football for the entire duration. At last, the second half of extra time was brought to a close. The game was going to come down to penalties, in a perfect finale for an exciting game of football. The crowd flooded the pitch and stood expectantly as the first Brasenose player stepped up to the penalty spot and, coolly, slotted it in the bottom corner. Pressure mounted for the first Teddy Hall player who pushed his attempt just wide. 1-0 to Brasenose. The next six penalties were all calmly put into the back of the net, so that when the Brasenose captain stepped up, Brasenose were 4-3 up and had only one more penalty to score. McCleary sent the ball high over the goal onto the roof of the gym behind. But the Brasenose keeper, Tom Colthorpe, saved the last Teddy Hall penalty and the day, sealing Cuppers glory for the Black and Gold. The Brasenose fans stormed the field and the celebrations began.
After a long dry spell for Brasenose football, Conor McCleary, the Brasenose captain, and his team delightedly lifted the trophy and enjoyed their champagne – or, in actuality, Cava. Conor himself has expressed his delight to us: "I'm so proud of the whole squad for an excellent performance and keeping calm throughout the penalty shootout. We were the underdogs in every round and winning the oldest football trophy in the world genuinely means more to me than two varsity match successes or the eventual classification of my degree”. Wulfie Bain was deservedly awarded Man of the Match for his two vital goals.
The evening was truly an enjoyable one. The game represented Cuppers football at its best, with goals, tension, and questionable tackles. The crowd was far from dampened by the drizzle and never failed to produce comical football chants, accompanied with vuvuzelas, megaphones, horns and drums. My congratulations go to both teams for their effort, and of course, to Brasenose College, the 2016 Football Cuppers Champions.
The full team:Conor McCleary (c) (3rd Year Economics and Management), Tom Colthorpe (Master's student), Alex Stewart (4th Year Classics), James Scoon (2nd Year Maths), Jack Flowers (4th Year Languages), Richard Sykes (2nd Year PPE), Joey Fisher (1st Year Biochem), Gautam Menon (2nd Year Medicine), Calum Flintoff (1st Year Biochem), Felix von Stumm (4th Year Languages), Hugo Sever (3rd Year History), Freddie Barratt (2nd Year Maths), Kieran Gilfoy (doctoral student), Tom Hurleston (1st Year History), Wulfie Bain (1st Year Economics & Management), Jake Morgan (3rd Year Economics & Management).
By Nick Hooper (Second Year Classics student)
Football and other sports at Brasenose College are, as with all other colleges at both Oxford and Cambridge, completely optional but something many students participate in, along with drama, music, debating, charity work, journalism, partying and many other hobbies and pursuits. Sporting abilities form no part in the admissions process, which is based purely on academic credentials and potential.