Varsity Through the Ages...
VARSITY 2023 – it's just around the corner...
For many of our students, it will be their first taste of our annual sporting rivalry with Chester.
And while it's not exactly a rivalry steeped in history, the drama that has unfolded in each of our seven meetings has more than made up for those lost years.
So what exactly is there to look forward to?!
Here's your brief guide to 'VARSITY THROUGH THE AGES'...
Varsity 2016
When Chester hosted Salford at the inaugural competition, boy did we turn up in mass! Over 300 Salford students – underdogs on the day – all fighting for the Varsity Trophy.
And it was an absolute SCORCHER! Drama wasn't guaranteed, but sunburn definitely was...
How the day unfolded
For Salford, the day started off well. Before you could shout 'WHAT DO WE THINK OF CHESTER?!', we'd taken a 6-3 lead in the early fixtures.
But despite this, there was an inevitability about Chester’s late push.
With the home advantage, they fought on, clawing back points along the way.
We did all we could...
- Men’s Basketball came back from a 15-point deficit, winning by a SINGLE point.
- Women’s Hockey won only their second game of the season against a Chester side TWO LEAGUES above them in BUCS.
...but it wasn’t quite enough.
It was our rivals who came out on top, winning 12-8 overall.
We go again.
CHESTER 1-0 SALFORD
Varsity 2017
ROUND 2…. *ding ding*
On home turf for the first time, Salford were high in spirits. They had seen what a home advantage could bring, although it didn’t look to be quite as sunny as the year before.
And then, all of a sudden, a BREAKING NEWS STATEMENT:
‘Due to the adverse weather conditions we have been experiencing over the past few days, which look like they may continue, the pitches at David Lewis Playing Fields will be unplayable on Wednesday for Varsity…’Yikes.
But this could not dampen our spirits. Varsity WOULD go ahead – rain or shine!
And that it did.
With the home advantage, Team Salford came out strong, fighting hard for their first taste of victory… and were able to steal the Varsity title!
12-8 to Salford this time, with a real spring in our step.
Time to retain it.
CHESTER 1-1 SALFORD
Varsity 2018
We didn’t retain it.
CHESTER 2-1 SALFORD
Varsity 2019
... But we did win it back again!
Salford romped home in several fixtures. Highlights included 25-15 to us in the swimming, and then a devastating 5-1 to us in the Men’s Football.
It was a good year to be a Salford student – you can probably tell from the celebrations above!
Even our CEO got involved…
I left my Segway at home today, unfortunately. But talking about segways if I hadn’t, I’d be using it to drive all over the Chester team (just like the @salfordsu women’s rugby union did 80-0) #Varsity #segwaybanter
— Ed Moloney (@Ed_Moloney) March 20, 2019
So with the Varsity titles tied at 2-2… next year is gonna be HUGE!
CHESTER 2-2 SALFORD
Varsity 2020
It wasn’t.
If you don’t recall, there was a bit of a global 'blip', meaning that Varsities across the country were CANCELLED.
So let’s not relive that any longer.
CHESTER 2-2 SALFORD (still)
'Virtual' Varsity 2021
The pandemic was still slightly interfering with play, and so 2021 was to be our inaugural 'Virtual Varsity'...
The Active Distance Challenge made sure that our friendly rivalry could continue when actual Varsity was not possible.
We racked up a mammoth 1,486 kilometres – that’s from Salford to Slovenia(!) – while Chester managed an impressive 1,095km… not quite as impressive as our winning total.
CHESTER 2-2 SALFORD (+ 1x Virtual Varsity Title)
Varsity 2022
And then, Varsity came back bigger and better than ever.
After three long years of it not happening in person, it was back on Chester’s turf.
And won by a SINGLE POINT.
If you were there, you’d never forget it… but if you weren’t, why not relive that moment? (Just click play – we've cued the bit you're waiting for)
CHESTER 2-3 SALFORD
Which brings us to 2023…
So who will make history this time around?
Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Students of Salford, of the Union, my friends, I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Team Salford fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of sportsmanship, but it is not this day. An hour of footy and shattered players, when the whistle blows and Chester victorious, but it is not this day! This day we fight!! By all that you hold dear on this good Varsity, I bid you take a stand, Students of Salford!!!More Articles...
