January 27, 2016 3.47 pm This story is over 103 months old

University teams to clash in historic Lincoln football derby

Historic match: Lincoln’s two universities will, for the first time, do battle on the football pitch in a new challenge competition next month.
The first Cathedral Cup will see University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University football teams clashing for the first time.

Lincoln’s two universities will do battle on the football pitch in a new challenge competition next month.

The inaugural Cathedral Cup match between Bishop Grosseteste University and the University of Lincoln will take place on Wednesday, February 10 under lights at Sincil Bank, home of Lincoln City FC.

Organisers hope the game will become an annual fixture.

BGU's Vice Chancellor, the Rev Canon Professor Peter Neil, and University of Lincoln Vice Chancellor Professor Mary Stuart with the Cathedral Cup. Also pictured (left to right) are Matt Cunliffe and Will Fry from the University of Lincoln and Callum Ward from BGU.

BGU’s Vice Chancellor, the Rev Canon Professor Peter Neil, and University of Lincoln Vice Chancellor Professor Mary Stuart with the Cathedral Cup. Also pictured (left to right) are Matt Cunliffe and Will Fry from the University of Lincoln and Callum Ward from BGU.

Callum Ward, President of the BGU Football Society and a former youth team player at Lincoln City, said: “The footballing gap between the two universities has significantly reduced over recent years, and the University of Lincoln’s first team were impressed by our standard this year, so we decided to stage the first competitive fixture between the two universities.

“This game will hopefully develop into an annual fixture and be the students’ sporting spectacle that the city craves so much!

“We aspire to get as many people in attendance as possible because it will be an unforgettable event for all involved.”

Dr Graham Basten, Head of the School of Social Sciences at BGU, added: “We’re looking forward to the match next month, which will be a coming of age for our rapidly improving football team.

“The fixture will also be an opportunity to showcase our partnership with Lincoln City, which goes far beyond shirt sponsorship and provides opportunities for engagement between the club and our students at many different levels.”

University of Lincoln’s Men’s Football President Will Fry said: “It’s taken a lot of hard work by me, Callum Ward and Lincoln City. We are looking forward to a huge event that will hopefully become an annual fixture and draw the students and the city closer together.

“It’s huge for the football club to run what has the potential to be the biggest student event in the city.”

The match will kick off at 7.45pm on Wednesday, February 10 at Sincil Bank. Tickets cost £3 and are available from the Students’ Union at both universities.