After weeks of advertising and holding trials, History FC has now assembled a very strong squad, preparing for the first league fixture on Wednesday 7th October.
History FC is one of the University of Manchester’s oldest 11-a-side football teams, having competed in the ISSL campus league for many decades. After suffering two successive relegations, the team has stabilised over the last two seasons. Having retained a strong core from last season, the team will be aiming for promotion out of division two this year.
The campus league has five divisions of ten teams, consisting of a mixture of subject and halls teams. In addition to Wednesday afternoon league fixtures, there are also cup and plate competitions running on Saturday mornings. Now in my third season with History FC, I can say that the ISSL campus league provides a very good standard of competitive football, whilst also ensuring the game is played in an enjoyable, good-spirited manner.
As captain of History FC, I am looking forward to the challenge of playing as well as managing the team, something I’ve never had to do before. An added challenge will be managing my personal fitness, having dislocated my ankle at the end of last season. However, having defeated division one side Chemical Engineering 4-1 in a pre-season friendly, I am confident that the squad has great depth and is capable of being successful in the league and cups this season.
This year we welcome back former captain Lewis Ryder, who is back at the University of Manchester to study for an MA in History after taking a year out to teach English in China. It is great to have him around, not only as a fantastic player, but also as a former captain, will be helpful to me in running the team.
For the 2014-15 season, History FC struggled in the first-half of the campaign, but fought back with some stunning comebacks and victories in the second-half of the season. Highlights included scoring two late goals to draw 3-3 against the eventual league winners the Islamic Society, as well as taking cup winners Whitworth Park A all the way to a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final, only to lose out 4-1.
I am excited and eager to get back playing, even though the cold, dark winter months can make the conditions down in Wynthenshawe testing in the extreme, the competitive football and great team spirit certainly makes it worthwhile.
For more regular updates on how the team is doing this season, do follow us on Twitter @HistoryFCManUni.