‘The emphasis has been on fitness training and preliminary plans’

by Paul Rainford (Blues' Football Captain) It’s been a relatively quiet couple of weeks for the Blues football squad since our title clinching victory over Worcester University. With no competitive fixtures to focus on, the emphasis has been on fitness training and putting together preliminary plans for the Centaurs Varsity match and the Colleges XI Varsity match that will both take place on Saturday 1st March in Cambridge. The success of the Blues this season has been sustained and nourished by the flourishing of our support base in the Centaurs squad, and those who perform with distinction on March 1st may very well force their way into the final sixteen that will be selected for the Blues Varsity match at Craven Cottage later on in March. Last year’s Centaurs Varsity was one of the most competitive and exciting matches that I have ever had the pleasure to witness. The Centaurs had taken an early lead, only to be pegged back late on in the second half by a wonderful goal ironically enough scored by the brother of this year’s Centaurs captain. Cambridge had then gone in front in the first period of extra time and looked to be heading towards victory before Tom Wherry, now playing at right back for the blues, scored with a header from a corner deep into injury time. Both sides scored 12 consecutive penalties before one of the unfortunate, and most probably unwilling, Cambridge players put his effort wide of the post and handed victory to Oxford. We are certainly hoping for a repeat of an Oxford victory this year, but perhaps one achieved in slightly more comfortable circumstances. The Centaurs team that will play in the fixture will certainly be very strong and well prepared, with many individuals having represented the Blues at some point during the season. This year we have called upon more players and managed a much larger squad than has ever been the case in the past. This has helped to provide an extra level of competitiveness, and has ensured that we have been able to make as informed decisions as possible regarding the personnel at our disposal. With regards to the Colleges XI, Varsity match coach David Robinson (OUAFC club President) will be selecting the squad and would like to invite nominations from all college players for any teammates and/or opponents that you feel would be deserving of a place in the representative team. Please email [email protected] with any recommendations you may have, stating their position and college, and including any comments you believe would be helpful. The next Blues fixture will be played in the first round of the BUSA national knockout competition next Wednesday against Team Bath. This fixture should certainly provide us with a stern test and it will be interesting to gauge the standard of our technical play against one of the more prestigious members of the BUSA football community.