Christ’s College Association Football Club
Christ's College AFC had an exceptional 2025–26 season. The first team won all nine CUAFL Division 2 fixtures without going behind in the league once, earning promotion to Division 1 for the first time since 2013–14. This was achieved without a single Varsity player in the squad; entirely College players. On top of the league campaign, the club entered the University social five-a-side league and won that too.
Beyond results, the club runs a weekly training session open to everyone in College regardless of ability, which has been well attended and brought new people into football throughout the year. Two competitions, two wins, and promotion, a genuinely strong season.
The culture within the club has been the reason for the success this season. The club has an age range of 18-30, with players from all over the world, in a very tight-knit group. The annual general meeting was last weekend, and an outgoing phd student who has been at Christ's since 2019, said that playing for Christ's AFC has been his favourite thing in his whole time at the University.
The weekly training sessions, made possible by college funding, gives the chance to encourage anyone at the college to come down and play some football, allowing people to have an important rest from academics or anything else that could be weighing them down. This is something that is especially important during exam term, where regular friendly 5-a-side games are organised on the college playing fields.
It would be great for Christ's AFC to win the award for College Sports team of the year to recognise both the success of the club this season alongside the effort that is put into creating a thriving community in the college."
King's College Tennis
In 2024, the club consisted of a handful of players competing in one team that was in the fifth division. We are now the dominant College tennis club in Cambridge along virtually every axis. Our 1st team won Div 1 in Michaelmas and came second in Lent. Our 2nd team is comfortably in Div 3; Our 3rd and 4th teams competed admirably - with mixed results, but testifying to our commitment to maximising participation in tennis at King's. This commitment is what we are most proud of.
Our twice-weekly training sessions welcome players of all levels, from first-timers to ex-BUCS players. Our Jack's gelato-sponsored merch, of which we received a large new order this year, continues to be proudly worn by KCTC members and coveted by others. We maintain a great social relationship with Clare Tennis, which we helped get off the ground last year with a large racket loan.
“As a complete beginner to tennis, the club has helped me improve my skills over the course of two terms, and I am extremely pleased with my noticeable progress that has come about as a result of regular training with a supportive team. The club also organises great socials involving Jack's Gelato.”
"I’m very happy to support Sushanth and Rade (Club Captains) for their continued leadership of KCTC. What they have achieved over the past year has been genuinely remarkable — growing the club competitively while keeping participation and inclusivity at its core. The energy, organisation, and community they have built around tennis at King’s speaks for itself, and the club is clearly in an incredibly strong position because of their efforts.”
“On a personal level, Rade has always made me feel welcome at King’s tennis as a new international student to Cambridge - something that captures exactly why KCT deserves this award."
Magdalene Mixed Netball
Magdalene Mixed Netball have been unstoppable this year, winning all 13 games played since the start of the year. From being a middling Division 3 side in Lent 2025, we won all eight of our games in Michaelmas 2025 to claim the Division 2 title, and with an impressive 100+ goal difference.
We are on course to win Division 1 at the first opportunity too, having also beaten Magdalen Oxford for the first time in at least 5 years at our Sister College event.
In Cuppers, having won all 3 of our cuppers group matches, Magdalene overcame tough opponents in Clare College and Trinity College in the quarter finals and semi-finals, before eventually experiencing their first defeat of the season in the final, losing narrowly 22-21 to Gonville and Caius.
Sidney/Magdalene Women's Football
Sidney/Magdalene Women’s Football Club has undergone an extraordinary revival in the 2025-26 season.
In 2024/25, the team did not function and did not play any league or cup fixtures. The turnaround since then has been fantastic; under the stellar work of captain Martine Maugue, Sidney/Magdalene have had 24 different students play, half of which were playing football for the very first time. They managed to play all of their scheduled matches and trained once a week consistently throughout both Michaelmas and Lent.
In Cuppers, they were victorious in the Vase, taking a remarkable 20 player squad to the match, and they also played an exhibition match on Grange Road as part of Sidney’s 50 Years of Women celebrations. The latter was played despite heavy snow and low fan attendance…! In summer term, they also took a team to compete against St John’s College, Oxford, as part of the Colleges’ sports swap.
During the season, Sidney/Magdalene have heavily embodied the College sport values of participation and enjoyment; the players have demanded the captain (Martine) organise more training for them during Summer Term, and Queens’ enjoyed their fixture so much that they have requested another match.
The accompanying Instagram account of @sidballers has documented the fun the team has brought to all those participating, showcasing the training, matches, and several socials the team has had throughout the year.
The resurrection of this team has showcased everything College sport can and should be about: enthusiasm, participation for all abilities, and enjoyment regardless of results.
St John's College Ladies’ Netball
This team is extremely friendly, passionate, and excited about sport. Every player puts their heart and soul into the game and shows genuine support to the girls on and off the court.
Winning Cuppers and remaining undefeated in the league, the team has shown great team spirit, commitment, and love of the game. The results are especially noteworthy as we only have one CULNC player this year and had players from 1st- 4th year playing together! It is the epitome of what College sport should be.
“Won every league match we played, even when down to five players against a full team. With only one CULNC member, winning cuppers with over 10 goals difference. Amazing team connection and everyone gives their all!”
