College football is back. The smell of freshly mown(ish) grass blending with shouts of passion and aggression, along with the Premier League-inspired tactics coming to the fore as each captain looks to dub themselves a footballing genius. League points, silverware, and bragging rights are all on the line - no team wants to be on the end of an Instagram story crucifying.

With the first round of Lent term fixtures kicking off tomorrow (22/01) and stretching to Sunday (23/01), Churchill I will be taking on St John’s I, as both sides find themselves in a mid-table battle. A Churchill win would take the home side above their opposition with a game in hand and potentially into fourth depending on goal difference and Robinson’s result.

Mixed fortune has summed up the current season for the two outfits, as a 5-3 win over Robinson back in October presents itself as a highlight for John’s, and Churchill would love to remember and repeat their 3-0 victory against Queens’ earlier on in the campaign. With neither side possessing an out-and-out goal scorer in their ranks, Churchill will be wishing Callum Farrow can find a vein of scoring - he only has the one so far - while John’s will turn to Josh Adeyemi in hope of goals.

“A solid core that sees top-assister Wiseman sit in front of the reliable centre-back pairing of Charlie Wilson and Tom Burke should bear a lofty finish for Caius come March”

Downing I vs. Queens’ I is another matchup taking place over the weekend, with the pair sitting slightly below their college counterparts in eighth and ninth respectively. A win for either side could rocket them up to mid-table contention if other results go their way. Considering Downing’s league form back in the 2019-20 season, when they finished fourth in a campaign shortened slightly by the pandemic, captain Richard Gotts’ men will be looking to hit the ground running against their relegation rivals.

Like most teams in the league, Queens’ will be affected by Cambridge University Association Football Club’s (CUAFC) decision to stop Blues players from pulling on college colours except in the Cuppers competition, meaning that they’ll be without attackers Jay Paul and Sean Cusack yet will hope striker Lewis Bocking can build on his three-goal tally. On the other side of the green, Downing will expect to be missing midfielder Tim Wallace and winger Brody Wooding.

A third against fourth clash will also bless college pitches in the form of Gonville & Caius I vs. Robinson I. With the former enjoying an absolutely dominant run of form in their last three games, beating Queens’, Downing, and Trinity Hall by scores of 7-3, 6-0, and 4-0 respectively, the boys in blue have nurtured a brilliant work ethic and grit under the leadership of James Wiseman. Although Blues captain Ben Adam will be absent, a solid core that sees top-assister Wiseman sit in front of the reliable centre-back pairing of Charlie Wilson and Tom Burke should bear a lofty finish for Caius come March.

“Winter conditions, CUAFC regulations, and unexpected league positions have all thrown a massive curveball to the rest of the college football season”

Meanwhile, Robinson will be somewhat disappointed with their campaign so far, as Jamie Gammell’s men have never really been able to refind the form that executed a perfect 5-1 opening win over Homerton I. Despite attacker George Pugh’s six league goals, the side have been the victim of a leaky defence, conceding an unhelpful sixteen in just five games; perhaps a consequence of the prolonged absence of centre-back Henry Lambert. Yet both Pugh and Lambert will both be falling out of the side for good due to the CUAFC regulation, likely giving Gammell further headaches on the field. However, if the skilful wing pair of Percy Verity and Makafui Avevor, along with striker Jack Barnes, can pick up the slack of Pugh’s departure, Robinson may well give themselves a chance to stay amongst the league leaders.

Now for the blockbuster game, the title decider, the old versus the new, Fitzwilliam I vs. Pembroke I. Given that Pembroke were a Division 2 side in 2020 and started the soon-abandoned 2020-21 campaign with two losses from two, to find themselves top of the league at the halfway point is an unbelievable feat in itself, regardless of where things stand at the end. Although captain Tele Agusto will find himself without centre-back and Blues player Matthew Hawthorn, Pembroke have the strength of a team to their advantage, with every player knowing their role and executing it near-perfectly come game day. Goalscorer Sonny Mahendran will look to maintain his fine form, and midfielder Oliver Reed will hope to continue racking up the assists.

As for Fitzwilliam, otherwise considered the dynasty of college football and last year’s Cuppers champions, their future has been tossed up in the air in light of the CUAFC decision. Co-captain Sonny McPherson, attacking midfielder and league top-scorer Lumi Kanwei, and winger Jed Odagbu will all be provisionally absent on future weekends, which could deal a mortal blow to the side’s title chances. Fellow co-captain Tom Randall, who has found himself on the scoresheet three times this season and much thanks to his free-kick prowess, will now turn to the likes of Ola Ogunnaike and striker Harry Houillon to carry the attacking load. Fitz’s disruption has sent waves of excitement and curiosity around the league for teams who are looking to knock the champions off their pedestal, but if we are to remember the wise words of former captain Adib Badri: the “Fitz factory” is relentless.

Winter conditions, CUAFC regulations, and unexpected league positions have all thrown a massive curveball to the rest of the college football season. Stay tuned every weekend for Varsity’s coverage of the action - you don’t want to miss it.