Sports: Report - Women's Football

Women’s football reached great heights this season. Merton and Mansfield combined with Wadham for another season after last season’s success, and our sights were set on a long Cuppers campaign. Following plenty of losses through graduations and year abroads, Wertonfield had what was essentially an overhauled squad. 

We started the season with a league match against Worcester, and a 6–0 victory proved encouraging and the start of what was to be a highly successful season. Our Cuppers run went all the way to the final after an extremely tense semi-final (a last-minute winner scored with 10 seconds to go by Merton’s captain). The atmosphere at Iffley was electric, with an incredible crowd turnout to cheer on Wertonfield. However, the result was not in our favour and our Cuppers campaign ended in Glorious Defeat (4–2 loss against Hertble). 

Wertonfield also had a great run in Futsal Cuppers, reaching the semi-final, unable to defeat a strong Worcester team. 

This season was the most successful season Wertonfield has ever had, building upon the foundations laid in the last few years. From numerous socials to regular training sessions, the team formed an amazing team spirit that has carried us not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well. We hosted our first of hopefully many alumni matches at Mansfield College (credit to Mansfield captain Mika), an amazing opportunity for previous players and current students to form bonds. 

This team has been the essence of what college sport is all about, and I am very proud of what we have achieved. I want to thank Mika Chen (Mansfield) and Mia Lockyer (Wadham) for being incredible co-captains. I will miss it very much! However, I have full confidence that Pippa will be an excellent captain for Merton next season. 

Hermione Chammings (2022) 

Women’s Football Captain 2024–25

This season has been one for the history books. Following the incorporation of Wadham into the Merton/Mansfield team, the glorious (albeit uniquely named) Wertonfield was born. 

Building on the successes of last year, this season we proved that Wertonfield is a force to be reckoned with. From 16–1 wins to defeating our rival Cambridge sister college, Peterhouse, this season gave us a chance to really prove ourselves – and boy we did. Our season-long unbeaten streak led us to be crowned league champions, securing promotion to Division 1. Our weekly training sessions and games brought us together, and this sense of unity was very much reflected on pitch: week in, week out, our players showed immense commitment, spirit and skill. 

After a particularly unlucky early exit from Cuppers (we put up a hard fight, only losing 2–1 to the eventual winners), we didn’t let that dampen our spirits, and set our sights on the Plate with newfound determination. We progressed through each round with unwavering resolve, and after a resounding 8–2 victory in the semi-finals, we made it to the final. After an extremely even game that ended 2–2, we fell just short on penalties, securing the second-place prize. And though the result was gutting, the team showed unparalleled perseverance and courage, particularly in the face of some unruly chants from opposition fans. We should be nothing but proud of our performance.

But the end of the football season didn’t bring about the end of our success. Headed by our Wadham captain Emma, our futsal team stormed to Cuppers victory, securing the trophy and ending the season on the high we deserved. A thoroughly deserved double for Wertonfield.

To our players, thank you. Your drive and tenacity cannot be understated. To our fellow co-captains, Wadham and Mansfield’s very own Emma Butcher and Isabel Luetchford, thank you for your endless talent and enthusiasm. It’s been a pleasure to co-captain this team with you (and big up Wertonfield bears). 

The future of Wertonfield looks bright. We eagerly welcome our next season and wish the future captains the best of luck (though we’re sure they won’t need it). 

Estelle Byrne and Hermione Chammings (both 2022)

Women’s Football Co-Presidents 2023–24

This was another great year for the women’s M&Ms football team, although not without its difficulties. Building on strong foundations laid by previous captains, we continued to hone our skills (and catch up on some gossip) with popular weekly training sessions. Bolstered by the addition of some fantastic new blood, the M&Ms started the year strong. However, success came at a price. After helping to lead the team through Michaelmas, Merton captain Bridget had to step down due to injury, while illness and injuries during Hilary also meant the team was forced to pull out of Cuppers. Nevertheless, our players continued to give it their all, both on the pitch and supporting from the sidelines, and we finished the year an admirable fourth out of seven in the inter-college league (Division 1).

We continue to value an atmosphere of positivity, sociability and inclusion, embracing players of all skill levels and hosting socials throughout the year, including a film night and an end-of-term picnic and awards ceremony. This year also saw the introduction of a new Instagram account for the team with brilliant match reports by our very own Eleanor Luxton (2021) in her own inimitable style.

Looking to next year, we are excited to be merging with Wadham women’s football and cannot wait to embrace new friends and players.

Thank you to everyone on the team for their support and effort, and best wishes to next year's captains.

Bridget Harrington, Anna Field and Zahra Ahmed (Mansfield) (all 2021)

M&Ms Women’s Football Co-Captains 2022-23

The women’s M&Ms football team has had an absolutely stellar year, involving not only weekly training sessions where we perfected our trusty old drills but also tried inventive new ones (including a complicated bow-tie-shape manoeuvre that we hope to ‘finally’ get to grips with next year) but also a number of matches against other college teams. We played plenty of friendlies and also came second in our inter-college league, securing a promotion to the next division. Several of our players (as ‘Purple Rain’, due to our funky new kit) also had great success in the 5-a-side futsal competition in Trinity. As well as this, we played several Cuppers matches, and despite being knocked out of the main competition by Saints, reached the semi-finals of the Hassan’s Cup competition.

As we look to next year, the team hopes only to improve from here, always receptive to new drill suggestions from team members, and hoping to secure even more wins. We head into next year with open arms to new recruits from any year and experience level, excited at the prospect of new teammates and hoping to do our best to fill the shoes of this year’s finalists.

We remain convinced that our relaxed and positive team spirit are the key to our success as a group. Our termly team pizza and game nights (and picnic and awards ceremony in Trinity) only help to strengthen the sense of community that we’ve built. Those of us who are staying on next year are really looking forward to another year of playing for the team, while those of us who are leaving feel assured that we have found lifelong friends within the M&Ms.

Lumi Westerlund (Mansfield, 2019) and Rachel Blackhurst (2020)
M&Ms Women’s Football Co-Captains 2021-22