Cambridge will face Oxford on a football pitch by the Thames for the 124th Varsity Match hours before the rowers take to the water this Saturday.

Fulham Football Club are hosting this year’s match at its famous Craven Cottage stadium, after a year’s gap. The match kicks off at 1pm.

Both Universities have 48 victories to their name, including the first match to be settled by penalty shoot out last year), while the remaining 27 matches having been declared draws. Incredibly a single Oxford goal separates the overall records of the two clubs, on 193 goals to Cambridge’s 192.

Guests of honour at the Varsity Match will be Lord David Triesman of Tottenham and Jimmy Hill OBE.

Lord Triesman, a graduate of King’s College Cambridge, became Chairman of the Football Association last month. A distinguished academic and former General Secretary of the Association of University Teachers, he has been involved with the game for many years, both as an amateur player until 1980 and then for eight years as a Senior Football Referee. A Tottenham Hotspur season ticket holder, he was a Government Minister from 2004 to this year. He sees his objective at the FA as “success at all levels, from the England senior team down to the grassroots”.

Jimmy Hill OBE has been involved with football as fan, player, coach, manager, director, chairman and television presenter. He played more than 300 games for Fulham FC, once scoring 5 goals in a single game.

Cambridge University Association Football Club President Dr John Little, who played in five Varsity Matches himself in the 70s when it was staged at Wembley Stadium, said: “It’s fantastic to be back at Craven Cottage. Our thanks to Fulham FC for hosting the match.”

After the match spectators will be able to enjoy a grandstand view of the early stages of the Boat Race from the riverside terrace.

The Cambridge Blue Boat suffered a setback when its stroke, Shane O’Mara, had to withdraw from the crew for medical reasons, but fellow American Ryan Montgomery has stepped up from Goldie and is fitting in well.

The Boat Race starts at 5.15pm. There will be live television coverage on ITV1 in the UK from 4pm.

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