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Written by Ronan Joyce
Favourites for the competition have to be Alcuin 1sts, winners of both the Autumn and Spring 1sts’ leagues. Indeed, Myles Preston’s team have shown a level of consistency unrivalled across the college spectrum throughout the winter months, and the squad can only benefit from the relaxation of University 1st team quotas for the summer term. While the winter leagues permit only one University 1sts player to be on the pitch for his side at any time, the summer cup removes all such restrictions.
With that in mind, Preston is relishing Alcuin’s assault on an unprecedented ‘treble’, all the while acknowledging that "a certain amount of luck is going to be needed’ to emerge victorious- a feat he admits would be historic."
A lot will depend on how some of our first years transfer to playing 11-a-side on the astro[turf],
"A lot will depend on how some of our first years transfer to playing 11-a-side on the astro[turf]" Preston says, whilst admitting Alcuin’s reliance on some of their more senior players: "The form of our big-game players like Henry Smith and Dan Cox will go a long way to deciding whether we are good enough to win this tournament."
Undoubtedly, the possibility of uniting University 1st team players Smith and Murrills increases Alcuin’s options, but it is this ruling that makes Goodricke favourites, according to Preston. Adam Lewis, Goodricke 1sts’ captain, will have at his disposal Ramsden, Wilson and O’Shea. Such a trio has made Preston believe "the pressure is on them."
With words that seem to commence the psychological mind games, the Alcuin captain emphasises the difficult position Goodricke 1sts are in: "They haven't won anything in quite a while, and with all of the University football options that they’ve got, anything less than victory would be a massive disappointment for them."
Such an assessment has been dismissed by Lewis, who accuses Preston of "trying to stoke the fire." Indeed, the defiance of the Goodricke captain suggests his Alcuin counterpart is in danger of getting his hand burnt. Lewis states merely that his side ‘can’ win the competition, but stresses the openness of a competition where a seconds’ team (Halifax 2nds) reached last year’s final four.
"A lot of players are leaving at the end of the year so this is their last chance of silverware" says Lewis. "[They] will be even more motivated as they haven't won anything this year despite having such a good team. It’s no use saying we’re good when we don’t produce."
Lewis is looking at the positives regarding his University 1st team options, and rather than seeing their presence as tantamount to extra pressure, he emphasises the added class these players bring: "The experience of Dom, Wils and Rambo, who can all play together now, will add to the steely determination of the squad."
Unquestionably, both Alcuin and Goodricke 1st teams will have much to say about the destiny of this year’s competition. With Alcuin the league champions and Goodricke last year’s Astroturf 6-a-side champions, their credentials are clear for all to see. Preston has singled out Jack Delaney as a key figure for Alcuin, while Goodricke will no doubt look to talisman Owen Grafham, bound to benefit from the additional class of University 1sts’ players.
All this said, the competition is not solely Goodricke vs. Alcuin, and the 1st teams of Vanbrugh, Derwent and Halifax will certainly be there or there abouts. There is also a depth of 2nd teams who will eagerly eye a run beyond the group stages, most notably Vanbrugh, Goodricke and Derwent.
All will begin to unfold a few weeks from now, with the group stages consisting of four groups of four- the top two progressing to knockout quarter finals. Before that, a third team qualifying competition will take place, the winners entering the main event. And while seeding implies the big guns are likely to progress early on, the unpredictability of the college arena suggests it will be explosive from the very start.
I've heard rumours that Lewis lost the dressing room amidst the debacle that was Goodricke's performance against Derwent at the end of last term.
comment deleted by a moderator "steely determination" of the Goodricke squad?! Who is he trying to kid? Goodricke are college football's perennial underachievers.
I'm predicting an Alcuin vs Vanbrugh final, with Vanbrugh to win a close game 1-0.
Go Alcuin!
and
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i think Myles' mind games of trying to put pressure on Goodricke are very transparent. Everyone can see the pressure is on Alcuin to go for an "unprecedented treble".
They're not mind games at all. The article itself notes how Goodricke have a number of University football first team players now available to them, including the first team captain. Everyone knows how good a team Goodricke are, and I think Lewis and former captain Grafham would be the first to admit that they have not got the job done on the pitch in the last two terms. I remember them not doing particularly well in the college cup last year as well...
Nevertheless, player for player, anything less than a victory for Goodricke should be deemed an enormous failure. If Goodricke end up without any silverware in an academic year then it wouldnt surprise me if Adlou's head ended up on the chopping block...
whilst goodricke may benefit more from there being no quota on Uni 1sts players, Alcuin still have more university players in their squad so surely the pressure will be on them...having won the last 2 leagues it's blindingly obvious they must be favourites! It appears Preston is worried any pressure might upset his team, after all they didn't win the league in style as they crawled over the finish line by drawing 5-5 with Halifax.
That Preston's talking codswallop.And why presume that these Uni 1st players are going to walk into every team?
Well, if you don't want to pick (or cant integrate) tom wilson, rambo, and dom into your team, then fair enough...
And number 7*, yes, we crawled over the finishing line, but we got the job done, and are champions. It really is as simple as that over at Alcuin.
However, it's not that simple for Goodricke. They were given a golden opportunity to win the title, and all they had to do was beat a Derwent side that they defeated 3-1 in the previous term. But that didn't happen did it? I wonder how great the psychological impact of such a crushing defeat is on some of their key players - I know Owen Grafham was particularly distraught after Goodricke conceded the title in such meek fashion.
i think you will find it was halifax 2nds who made the semis last year, knocked out 5-4 on pens by alcuin 1sts. this is clearly goodricke orientated journalism
Apologies, article has been updated with correction.
As Wentworth's captain, there are times I feel a bit like Paul Jewell at Derby- but even we've managed two wins this season!
If we beat Derwent before Christmas, and Goodricke couldn't beat them last month, does that make us one of the favourites too?
Gotta agree with plenty that's been said here, yes there is pressure on Goodricke, and in a sense there isn't any on Alcuin because they've got the 'silverware' in the bag this year. However, Alcuin ARE the clear favourites - I don't think anyone can seriously dispute this. Of course Goodricke do look good on paper - but surely more valuable is a well structured team that knows itself and is confident in each other. It's a big decision for the Goodricke captains when it comes to that first team sheet, and it'll be interesting to see which way they go with it.
However, the main reason I posted is because I want to hear more from the other colleges! Vanbrugh and Halifax also have good looking squads, and Derwent and Langwith are always tough opposition - What have their captains got to say?
Going by this article it sounds as if there are only two teams competing for college cup! Personally I find the levels of bias shown towards 'the big two' quite shocking,in my opinion neither Alcuin nor Goodricke will win the cup.
In the first term, Halifax finished 2nd, and last term Vanbrugh did - Im sure that both of these colleges will be looking to make an impact on the cup. Ive already seen what Vanbrugh's 1st and 2nd team squads look like, and both teams are looking strong. I definitely would not fancy being in Vanbrugh 1st's group.
Derwent are bound to have a say as well, and it would be unwise of anyone to rule out a very effective James College side.
Firstly apologies for the error, it was indeed Halifax 2nds who reached the semis last year.
And apologies if some of you are offended by the amount of 'bias' shown towards Alcuin and Goodricke. The article is centred around them purely because they have the two most consistent records over the winter period, and, in most minds, are the two most likely to win the tournament.
That said, as mentioned above, the tournament is wide open, and contributions from other colleges are more than welcome.
And as for the integration of Uni 1sts' players Myles, surely you agree that to guarantee anyone a place is unwise. While these players have undoubted class, it is shown in football history that the best 11 don't necessarily make the best team. I am sure that Alcuin's Uni players will not 'automatically' walk into the team, right?
thankyou for correcting that, generally i agree with you that alcuin and goodricke are favourites and you would certainly have to agree based on the consistency of the two over the last two terms. however, halifax's decline from 2nd to 2nd bottom last term was due to a lack of enthusiasm and availability from certain uni players. i wouldnt count us out because we can, at full strength, field players of the calibre of joe brennan, ian mckellow, andy rixon, jeroen, sean evans and strong uni 2nds and 3rds players like alex richards, marat, nightingale and matt fortnam. if we can get a full strength team out we would challenge anyone. also that dom green is some striker
No ones place is guaranteed in Alcuin's side! However, the only conflict of interest I have ever had in terms of uni 1sts is with Murrills and Smith - we don't have that many uni firsts players, so it shouldn't be a problem! We wont have loads of uni first team players coming in, so our squad is more settled than a lot of others...
Wonder who wrote post 17* (Dom)...!!!
watch out for Vanbrugh 2nds....thats all I can say
Wentworth are a better team than Goodricke.
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