UoN Sports Clubs’ Season Roundup

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The 21/22 season has been yet another impressive year for Notts sport. The University once more hosted BUCS Big Wednesday, where we topped the standings after picking up 14 fantastic well-earned titles and a 10-7 Varsity victory over the old enemy, Trent. Overall, the University saw some massive successes and history made. Impact asked some of the biggest Notts sports clubs for a round up of their season.

Men’s Hockey 1s

A BUCS Silver and the England Hockey National League Division One North title marked one of the club’s best seasons. Promotion into the Premier Division will see Notts become the first university with two Premier Division teams thanks to the immense success of the men and women’s 1s.

Having not made a BUCS final since 2015, freshly appointed Head Coach, James Bateman, and new Video Analyst, Matt Stoner, helped the Green and Gold concede the least goals in BUCS Premier League (6) on the way to winning 25 out of 28 matches this season in all competitions. They capped off a memorable season with a stunning 4-1 Varsity win.

Some special mentions from the team to Jon (S&C), Rory (lead physio), Roisin (Psychologist), Dan (CDO), Jodie (Nutritionist), Tris and ‘the Lydia’s’. They say goodbye to a chunk of the squad but especially missed will be Imre Gerrits.After five years and countless man of the match votes, UONHC finally bids farewell to the GOAT.

Honours – National League Division One North, promotion to Premier Division, BUCS Silver, Varsity.

League W-D-L – 6-0-2

Men’s Football 1s.

The University of Nottingham Men’s Football Club have enjoyed an immense season, both on and off the pitch. The 1st XI had a fantastic league season, becoming champions of Midlands 1A for the first time in years, averaging over four goals a game.

Despite a spirited Varsity loss to a very strong Trent side, further successes were encountered across the club. The 2nd XI claimed third spot in the same Midlands 1A league. UONFC’s most improved team this year was the 5th XI who dominated the season with a 100% record.

The first team finished the season magnificently as a Toby Gould hat-trick fired them to a play-off final win over Leeds Beckett to send Notts to the Premier Division North. Off the pitch, club members volunteered their time: giving food to the homeless, providing hundreds of school meals to those most vulnerable during half term and raising a significant amount of money during ‘Movember’.

Honours – Midlands 1A, promotion to BUCS Premier North.

League W-D-L – 8-1-1

Women’s Football 1s

This year, the women’s first team enjoyed a tremendous season, taking eight victories in the Midlands 1A league to claim the title ahead of Birmingham and bitter rivals Trent.

Notts continued their fine form in the National Trophy, dispatching Birmingham, Essex and Cardiff enroute to an allNottingham final against Trent. Unfortunately, NTU ran out winners, but UoN were not to be dispirited.

Their league success rewarded them with a play-off place for promotion to the BUCS Premier North. A titanic clash saw Edinburgh take Notts to penalties, where the Green and Gold prevailed to wrap up an admirable season.

Honours – Midlands 1A, Women’s National Trophy runnersup, promotion to BUCS Premier North.

League W-D-L – 8-0-2

Women's Hockey 1s

The 1st XI had a season of dreams, beginning with a 3rd-place BUCS Premier League finish, scoring a league high of 40 goals. The team then went a step beyond in the National Championship, securing BUCS Gold in an intense 1-0 win versus league-winners Birmingham in the BUCS Big Wednesday final.

Success continued in the weekend league, with the team winning BUCS Gold and the Division One North league within the space of four days. An unbeaten season secured promotion into the highest league - the Women’s Premier Division - with 86 goals scored.

Contributing to the team’s success are four 2021/22 bronze medal-winning/ 2022 Junior World Cup England squad members, alongside German Olympic Captain Nike Lorenz.

Honours – BUCS Championship Gold, BUCS Weekend League Gold, Division One North, promotion to Premier Division.

League W-D-L – 6-0-2

American Football

The American Football community at the University had a tough start to the season with the tragic passing of coach and club friend Stephen Brittle, known as Coach Beef. Despite the impact this had on the squad, the team achieved their most successful season ever in his memory.

They took seven wins from eight on the way to league victory. In the club’s first ever National Championship final, they were beaten agonisingly in the last minute of a game. It has been touted by many as the best British American Football game ever: a title the team are immensely proud to have contributed to through some amazing plays.

Fortunes fell in Notts’ favour when they kicked off Varsity 2022, triumphing 24-21 over Trent. A fitting end to a fine season where they scored 438 points and conceded just 123.

Honours – Varsity, BUCS Championship runners-up, Premier Division North.

League W-D-L – 7-0-1

Men’s Rugby Union 1s

The 1st XV got off to a shaky start, losing two tight games against Newcastle and Trent. However, they bounced back with convincing wins against Durham and Leeds Becket, bolstered by the return of captain Ben Sugars from injury.

This built momentum and culminated in some of the boys’ biggest wins, with revenge against NTU and Newcastle part of a 15-game undefeated streak as the side finished top of BUCS Premier North and winners of the BUCS Vase Cup.

A historic promotion to BUCS Super League, the top tier of university rugby, was up for grabs against Northumbria. Notts recorded yet another play-off W, winning 28-22 to complete a wonderful treble.

Honours – BUCS Vase Cup, BUCS Premier North, promotion to BUCS Super League.

League W-D-L – 12-0-2

Women's Rugby Union 1s

Notts Women’s 1s had a storming season. Their only league loss came early in the campaign, narrowly defeated at Leicester. From there, the team has gone from strength to strength, winning all remaining games to dominate the league and take a welldeserved title.

The team also reached the semi-final of the National Trophy, a fantastic effort despite bowing out to UWE. Their league efforts were rewarded with a place in the playoffs for promotion to the Premier North League. Facing a strong Leeds Beckett side, Notts took an incredible 50-49 victory to secure promotion. A 62-5 dismantling of Trent made it a Varsity match to remember.

Their excellent season was exemplified by Evie Butler and Olivia Lowrie, who top-scored with 17 tries each.

Honours – Midlands 1A, Promotion to Premier North League, Varsity.

League W-D-L – 9-0-1

Wheelchair Basketball

This season has been mega for the club. In wheelchair basketball’s inaugural BUCS season, the team dominated from the get-go, with a total of 617 points scored to 144 conceded.

The major highlight of the season was BUCS Big Wednesday. The noise from the home crowd was fantastic, and Notts came away 66-40 winners against Cardiff Met to take the Gold.

The progress of the team over the last few years has been phenomenal, from finishing 6th nationally in 2019 and then 4th in the 2020 season, to finally taking the title in 2022. Hopefully, there’s even more to come!

Honours: Midlands Tier 1, BUCS Championship.

League W-D-L: 9-0-0

With all that, UoN recorded another incredible sporting year, firmly cementing itself as a leader in university sport. Many thanks to the teams for providing details of their seasons, and a massive congratulations on the numerous amazing successes that culminated in this epic year. Hopefully, it will be onwards and upwards for the Green and Gold in 2022/23!

Student Athlete Spotlight: David Paterson

Impact’s Head of Sport, Matthew Cotter, fired some questions at final year pharmacy student and GB canoe slalom athlete, David Paterson.

Favourite place on campus?

Got to be David Ross; avoiding my responsibilities really!

Favourite place in Nottingham?

Embankment near Trent Bridge.

Go-to VK flavour?

Too many bad memories with VKs… if I had to pick, it would be orange.

Crisis or Ocean?

Ocean.

How did you get into canoeing?

My older brother’s rugby coach formed a team to try canoeing as a team building activity. He preferred it to rugby, and I was dragged along with him at 10/11-years-old. I loved it!

How does UoN support you as a student athlete?

I’ve been lucky enough to be a Sport Scholar throughout university. I have a lifestyle advisor from UoN and my personal tutor is supportive, both with my studies and my sport.

How do you manage your time between studying and canoeing?

It’s difficult, I don’t get a load of time for social stuff, balancing a demanding degree with training up to 14 times a week! I think studying during a pandemic has actually been beneficial for me. It’s allowed me to be more flexible with when I do my university work, meaning I could train almost full-time for the last 2 years.

Go-to hype song before a big event?

It’s Yourz by Wu-Tang Clan.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I hope to be well in contention for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic selection. I’d hope to be a full-time athlete at this point, but I’d also like to be involved in some way with pharmacy. I think it’s an exciting and innovative field to keep in touch with for when I finish my career as an athlete.

By Matthew Cotter

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