This weekend the OUAFC Blues will take to the hallowed turf of Craven Cottage, sometime home of Fulham FC, to compete in the 132nd Varsity Match, a fixture matched only in longevity by the FA Cup Final. Captain Alex Tsaptsinos and Coach Mickey Lewis have named a 16 man squad for the fixture containing a mere 5 returning blues including: heroic keeper Ben Szreter, who will compete in his final Varsity Match; 2014 Man of the Match, Michael Moneke; Kiwi midfield dynamo, Brook Tozer; tricky winger, Sam Gomarsall; and, the talismanic Tsaptsinos.
The squad does however have significant OUAFC pedigree and depth with previous Colts and Centaurs including Laurence Wroe, Tom Brown, Jacob Burda, Cian Wade and John Dinneen all among those making the step up. Newcomers to the squad include fresher Dom Thelen, a flair striker and the only fresher included, and Sean Gleeson, a goalkeeper who has frequented Dev Squad training and who is a surprise addition to the Varsity squad. Ultimately this squad is epitomised by dedication, passion and of course skill. Once the boots are laced I’m sure there will be plenty of tab-shoeing come Sunday.
The OUAFC Blues Varsity Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ben Szreter* (Vice Captain, Wadham), Sean Gleeson (Exeter)
Defenders: Dan Brown (Lincoln), Tom Brown (Pembroke), Michael Moneke* (President, Trinity), Cian Wade (Pembroke), Laurence Wroe (Pembroke)
Midfield: Jacob Burda (Queen’s), John Dinneen (Univ), Kieran Gilfoy (Brasenose), Sam Gomarsall* (St. Benet’s), Brook Tozer* (Wolfson), Alex Tsaptsinos* (Captain, Pembroke)
Strikers: James Somerville (Linacre), Dominic Thelen (Wycliffe Hall)
The 132nd Varsity Match will take place on Sunday 27th March 2016 at Craven Cottage in London K.O. 12.45. Tickets are available from any OUAFC player and through the Fulham FC Ticketing Website.
