Football Cuppers
The Keble Men’s Football Team, with supporters.
Victory was so close for both Keble’s women’s and men’s football teams in the inter-collegiate Cuppers football tournament this year. They played extraordinarily well in all their matches, only suffering defeat in the semi-final.
Women’s Team
The women started off their winning streak with an amazing score of 13-1 in their first round against Christchurch/Oriel. Victory was secured with Co-captain Ellie Micklewright’s (2021 Geography) hat-trick, alongside an incredible count of 7 goals scored by defensive midfielder Megan King (2021 Human Sciences).
Their second round saw an equally crushing defeat for Brasenose/Balliol, with Keble winning 9-1 after a tense first half. Rose Wikeley (2022 Hertford) shone in a stunning performance throughout this round: according to Captain Megan King, she was ‘so quick and so skilful that if you blinked, you might just miss her; a masterclass in leaving defenders in the dust’.
The women started off their winning streak with an amazing score of 13-1 in their first round against Christchurch/Oriel
After a sadly cancelled quarter-final, the team entered the semi-final eager to defeat Osler House. Martina Mengoni (2022 Economics and Management) heroically stepped in as goalkeeper when all other options were exhausted; her commitment and willingness to step up to the challenge a testament to her love of the team. Throughout the match, Lili Wondwossen’s (2022 Hertford) technical ability on the wing had the crowd in disbelief. Despite the team’s collective efforts, the pain of defeat was felt at the end of the match with penalties 2-4 to Osler House.
Captain Megan King on this final match: “An inspiring display of passion, drive and commitment led to our equalising and continuing to dominate possession throughout extra time. Although penalties didn’t go our way, the team throughout the entire game put on a performance to be proud of. There were moments of technical beauty, but it was the attitudes of every single player on the pitch that I am most proud of. This group of players left everything they had on the pitch; their heads never dropped; their work ethic never faltered.”
Men’s Team
The men’s first round against St Anne’s was nail-biting, with a tense last-minute goal bringing victory, a score of 1-2 to Keble. The match was a triumph for first-year undergraduate student Noah Fletcher (2022 Economics and Management) who scored both goals, proving an excellent player under pressure, a rising star in the team.
The next round saw Keble defeat Wadham 9-3, an achievement acquired in part through a poor turnout from the opposing team, along with vice-captain Samuel Clegg’s (2021 PPE) magnificent hat-trick. Spectators watched in awe as ex-captain Theo Lewis (2020 Engineering) scored an incredible ‘goal of the season’ in a stunning volley.
The men’s first round against St Anne’s was nail-biting, with a tense last-minute goal bringing victory, a score of 1-2 to Keble
Keble’s quarter-final was against St Catz, a formidable team to beat. Victory was a challenge, but not unattainable for the Keble team who defeated St Catz 0-2. Within the first half, first year student Fin Hayes (2022 English) scored a screamer of a volley and Samuel Clegg brought Keble to 2-0. This was maintained with a defensive masterclass from Keble's back line; vice-captain Max Brewster (2021 PPE), Theo Lewis, John MacGreevy (2021 Theology and Religion) and Callum Inman (2020 Engineering), who, alongside postgrad talents Jamie Kwon (2020 DPhil Oncology) and Liam Elbourne (2019 MPhil Economics), held the fort until the end.
Keble's semi-final against St Hugh's saw the bitter sting of defeat, but hearty congratulations to the whole of KCFC for a great run to the semis.
