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University of Cambridge marks 150 years of Varsity football with Oxford

Mark Box/Cambridge University Library Cambridge University 1906-1907 football teamMark Box/Cambridge University Library
A photo of Cambridge University's 1906-1907 team is among those being made public

Photos and memorabilia celebrating 150 years of Varsity football between Cambridge and Oxford universities have been released to the public for the first time.

The University of Cambridge's collection included team sheets and programmes dating back to the 1800s.

The university said it was a "glimpse into a rich history" of the game.

The 150th Varsity match will be played on Friday, 15 March at Cambridge United's Cledara Abbey Stadium.

Mark Box/Cambridge University Library Cambridge University's 1893-94 teamMark Box/Cambridge University Library
The Varsity match of 1894 was referred to as "the felt soles match" after Cambridge put felt on their boots to grip on the frosty ground - they won 3-1

The University of Cambridge said the collection had never been digitised before or seen outside the University Library archives.

It described the Varsity match as "one of football's longest-running rivalries".

Mark Box/Cambridge University Library Football team from around the 1900sMark Box/Cambridge University Library
A photo believed to have been taken in the early 1900s

The older images are accompanied by pictures of the 2024 university teams, highlighting "a century of changes in kit, styles, and the welcome addition of women with an annual women's Varsity match introduced in 1987".

The 150th Varsity matches coincides with 175 years since the "rules of football' were written by Cambridge University students - making Cambridge the birthplace of the modern rules of football.

In 1848, a group of students from Cambridge created a set of 11 rules for football and nailed them to the trees surrounding Parker's Piece. In 1863 the Football Association of England adopted most of these rules and added three more.

Mark Box/Cambridge University Library Season programme from 1891-1892Mark Box/Cambridge University Library
Season programme from 1891-1892

Nick Brooking, director of sport at the University of Cambridge said: "These images of players from 131 years ago offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of football at Cambridge and the importance sport has played in our students' lives for centuries.

"Playing both the women's and men's matches in our local stadium will be a great occasion and we hope the community will come and the teams on this momentous night."

Mark Box/Cambridge University Library 1924-1925 teamMark Box/Cambridge University Library
The 1924-1925 lost the Varsity Match 1-4

A t statement from the university's team captains read: "It's incredible to look back and see the players that came before us and what an incredible legacy we all get to be a part of.

"It's an honour to be captaining our teams in such an important year when the rivalry and talent is stronger than it's ever been. We've no doubt these matches will be ones to in another 150 years."

Alissa Sattentau/Morven Knowles Cambridge University's men's and women's teams for the 2024 seasonAlissa Sattentau/Morven Knowles
Cambridge University's men's and women's teams for the 2024 season
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