The University of Gloucestershire’s men’s football team face the University of Worcester in the latest Varsity clash in a game described “as the build up for a whole year,” by club captain Sebastian Davies-Wade.
Varsity is the annual sports competition between the two universities, with Gloucestershire currently winning 4-3 after the first seven rounds of competition.
The men’s and women’s football is next on the schedule, with both games taking place on Friday 1 April.
Last year, Gloucestershire were victorious on penalties in the men’s football clash, and club captain Davies-Wade is confident the team can achieve the same result this time around. Speaking to Park Life Sport, Davies-Wade admitted he can’t wait for the game. “I mean this is it, it’s the build up for a whole year, isn’t it? We’ve spoken non-stop about it since the start of the year,” he said.
“We’ve all gone about how big an event it is, how we’re all excited for it and I think I’m just proud right now,” Davies-Wade added. The 21-year-old himself plays for the university third team, but will be in the stands as a loyal supporter on Friday night at the home of Gloucester City, which is the chosen venue for the game. “We need everyone’s support there, like we’ve done at Plock Court all year. We’ve managed to turn that into a fortress this year, it’s quite a hard place to play, and we were lucky enough to get the home ground so I think we can bring that support that we have been doing all year,” he continued.
Big University sport news! @UoGMFootball and @UOGWFootball will take on their Worcester counterparts at the home of Gloucester City on April first. pic.twitter.com/M4mjgiePKq
— Park Life Sport (@ParkLife_Sport) February 25, 2022
“We could almost make it feel like a home game for the lads so I’m hoping that we show the lads, even the ones that weren’t selected, that we’re still that one club family and we’ll all be there with them until the final whistle. Whatever way it goes, I’ll be a proud club captain regardless,” he concluded.
While Davies-Wade will be watching from the stands, two Gloucestershire players who could be crucial to the end result, George Harris and James Younger, will take to the pitch at Meadow Park, and they revealed to Park Life Sport how well preparations have gone.
Younger, a centre-back who also plays for Hellenic League side Longlevens away from university, didn’t start in last year’s Varsity, but has been part of the first-team set-up all season. He’s been impressed with the intensity of the training camp in the build-up to the game, and believes the team has improved since 2021.
“I feel like with different boys coming in we’ve gelled well together. Training’s been at a really good intensity, and the coaches have been a massive support with all the extra stuff we’ve been putting in, all the video analysis and all the tactics they’ve been putting in. So we’re feeling good,” he began.
“I feel like the quality and the standard the boys play this year is a lot better than we had last year, with a lot of the boys training more outside of university football and obviously feeling sharper,” Younger continued. “I just think the squad as a whole and the atmosphere created around the club is a far better one than last year, but I mean hopefully it’s still a good result. Hopefully we can do it in normal time as well rather than drag it out to penalties again.”
2️⃣ DAYS TO GO 🔵
— UoG Mens Football (@UoGMFootball) March 30, 2022
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Last year’s win was secured via Tom Powell-Davies’ winning penalty in the shootout, and the game was Harris’ first Varsity appearance, which he revealed was a great experience. Harris, who will play as a right-wing-back this year despite featuring as an attacking midfielder last year, spoke about the game in 2021, saying: “It was a shame that it was in COVID times so no one could watch and it was live streamed but hopefully that tiny bit of experience can help me and push some of the boys that are playing in their first Varsity.”
Despite the knowledge of Worcester from last year, Harris revealed Gloucestershire will be heading into the game blind, with limited understanding of their opposition. “We don’t [know much about them]. We’ve heard a few things, mixed things really. I don’t think they’ve had the best of seasons, but I think they’re coming off the back of a couple of really good wins,” he said.
“But I think when it comes to a Varsity clash all expectations go out the window, it’s a different game and the meaning that comes with it. You’ve just got to go out there and expect to face a really tough opposition. But, we’re focusing on ourselves more than anything.”
Kick-off for the men’s football Varsity fixture is at 19:00 at Meadow Park Stadium in Gloucester.
